X-ray radiation can dramatically increase cancer risk | x射线辐射可以显着增加癌症的风险

Chinese researchers compared two groups of medical workers, one group (25,782) whose work had nothing to do with x-ray radiation and another group (27,011) who were exposed to x-ray due to their work, for their risk of various cancers. The data were collected between 1950 and 1995. They found that the x-ray exposed group had a 20% increased risk of cancer.

Specifically, they found the risk of leukemia, skin cancer, female breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, and esophageal cancer was increased by 120%, 310%, 10%, 30%, 20%, 20%, 80% and 170%, respectively.

Considering the patterns of exposure related to the starting date, age and others, the study found that the risk of skin cancer, female breast cancer, and possibly thyroid cancer in medical workers is associated with their over-exposure to x-ray in the workplace.

Those employed before 1970 were exposed to x-ray radiation in a cumulative dose of 551 mGy while those starting to work between 1970 and 1980 received 82 mGy of x-ray radiation. In the first group, the risk of leukemia and solid cancers was increased by 140% and 20%, respectively while the risk was not significantly increased, risk of leukemia increased 70% while risk for solid cancers elevated by 10%.

The study indicates that when the cumulative dose of x-ray radiation reached a certain level, the radiation could increase the risk of cancer, significantly. （刘大卫）