RISK OF IONIZING-RADIATION EXPOSURE TO CHILDREN - A SUBJECT REVIEW

Exposure of children to ionizing radiation most commonly is from the e nvironment, chiefly through cosmic rays and radon, or from medical tec hnology. Medical radiation exposure occurs during diagnosis, therapy, and dental radiography. More is known about the biological effects of exposure to ionizing radiation than to nonionizing radiation from micr owaves, radiowaves, and the electrical fields of other electrical appl iances. This review applies only to sources of ionizing radiation and does not include the potential risks of indoor radon. The effects on c hildren of ionizing radiation have been studied from war activities an d environmental accidents. Projections are made from that data to help pediatricians evaluate risk from radiation when ordering radiographs.