Common sense about ionising radiation and CT scans
breast tissue in women and ‘young’ cells in children are more sensitive to radiation…….Universally, MRIs and ultrasounds – which do not use radiation – are increasingly being used as an alternative to CTs where appropriate.
When you are faced with the prospect of undergoing a CT scan or another sort of imaging, here are some questions to ask and steps to take:
- Ask your referring doctor to outline the risks and benefits, and whether this test will change the way you are treated.
- Ask if there are alternative tests or methods that use less radiation but are as effective.
- Keep a record of the scans you have had and discuss this with your doctor. Avoid unnecessary duplicate tests.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before having a scan.
- Educate yourself by accessing the many very good online resources for more information
- If you are still unsure, seek a second opinion.
CT scans and radiation, ABC by Pamela Wilson, 12 Aug 11, Every year, more CT scans are being ordered in Australia. They provide valuable information to guide medical care, but they come with a dose of radiation. Should we be worried? Read more »
Positive results in Australian tests of radiation free airport scanners
In July, Thruvision’s terahertz-scanning technology was tested at airports in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, along with millimeter wave scanners from L3. Ron Frye, Thruvision’s Director of International Business Development, reports that the trials ended with positive results, but Australian authorities have not yet made any firm decisions about usage of full body scanners.
Safer full-body scanners? SF Gate, 11 Aug 11, As controversy simmers surrounding the levels of radiation used in full body scanners, a small company based in the United Kingdom has developed a machine that emits no radiation at all. Read more »
Some good news for Australia – avoiding radiation airport scanning?
Now why on Earth did I have to go to an American news service, to find out that the Australian government was doing something sensible about protecting people from ionising radiation? - Christina Macpherson
Australia Tests Radiation Free Body Scanners HUFFINGTON POST 9 Aug 1 1 AOL Travel News:
(at left – scanner – millimeter radio wave type)
Now that the whole “nudie pic” situation has been cleared up, it seems the main concern surrounding airport body scanners is the radiation they emit.
But, at airports in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, tests were run in July on scanners that emit no radiation, reports the BBC. Instead, the T8000, developed by UK-based ThruVision Systems, uses a “passive” screening technology.
– http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/09/australia-tests-radiation_n_922184.html
Rum Jungle’s uranium mining gives cancer to a whole family
I was very interested to read your article ( http://uranium-news.com/2010/09/04/deplorable-history-of-australias-uranium-mining-impact-on-aboriginals/
regarding the devastation caused by uranium mining. I have a father, uncle and two aunts who all worked at Rum Jungle in the 1960′s. My father and uncle passed away in their 60′s due to lung cancer. My aunt in her 60′s due to breast cancer and my other aunt who is still with us today has also had breast cancer. Surely this cannot be a coincidence and I would like to know if you have any more information with regards to the health impact that the Rum Jungle uranium mine has had on past workers. - Kirsten Johnson kirstjohn@aapt.net.au
Hey Kirsten,
Am starting my quest for information to make a claim on behalf of Judy, Peter, Kevin and my father in law. Cec Dickinson who died of lung cancer 1979 aged 70, and of course myself. will keep you posted,
Love Aunt Janet Janet Dickinson nee Litchfield dickinsonjanet@hotmail.com
Janet Dickinson nee Litchfield,
I am Kirsten Johnson’s aunt, and sister to Judy, Peter and Kevin Litchfield who passed away with cancer. all having worked at Rum Jungle in the 50′s. My father in law also passed away in 1979, aged 70 from lung cancder, he worked at Rum Jungle for 20 years from 1958. I have just recently been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer which is not connected to my breast cancer. I am starting a program of radium and chemo on Aug 15. I have been told my chances are good. We shall see.
Any other people who have been affected by cancer from Rum Jungle. Janet Dickinson nee Litchfield dickinsonjanet@hotmail.com
Radiation danger in unnecessary CT scans
Warning to avoid needless CT scans, Canberra Times, BY HENRIETTA COOK, 13 Jul, 2011 , A growing number of Australians are receiving unnecessary computerised tomography scans at hospitals and clinics.
Last year there was a 40 per cent increase in the number of diagnostic radiation incidents reported to government authorities, with unnecessary and unplanned CT scans making up the bulk of cases. Sixty diagnostic radiology incidents were reported to the Australian Radiation Incident Register in 2010, up from 43 in 2009. There were 29 incidents where patients were given unnecessary or unplanned CT scans and six reported occasions where patients received CT scans and later found out they were pregnant…..
”CT scans are 100 times more powerful than a conventional X-ray. You have to try and avoid that sort of radiation unless absolutely necessary.”
Dr Deb said many doctors were ordering patients to have CT scans when their conditions could easily be diagnosed with conventional X-ray machines, which emit much lower doses of radiation……http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/warning-to-avoid-needless-ct-scans/2224657.aspx
Australia’s radiation register about planning for compensation, not about safety
the initiative announced does not improve safety for uranium workers. It collates evidence of harm in preparation for compensation….the classic leap from a pledge of no (or minimal) harm to the reality – a register of harm.
Wrong safety messages from Australia’s resources minister « SafetyAtWorkBlog, Kevin Jones, 13 June 11, IMPROVED SAFETY FOR URANIUM WORKERS” is the headline of a media release from Australia’s Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson. The 9 June 2011 statement concerns the positive initiative of new health monitoring for those workers in the uranium mining and milling industries, but it also betrays a perspective that is dominant in the thinking of national policymakers. Read more »
Health dangers of electromagnetic radiation
The first time that cell phones were associated with cancer risk was in 1997, following a study conducted by Michael Repacholi and his colleagues from the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia that showed an increase in the occurrence of lymphoma in mice exposed to cell phone radiation over a long term.
WHO Rings The Alarm Bell On Mobile Phone? RTT News 2 June “………Mobile phones emit electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range.Over the last few years, there has been a growing concern over the possible health hazards of mobile phone radiation. Read more »
Half of Australia’s uranium workers not tested for radiation
Serious exposure to uranium had been discovered including workers showering and drinking radioactive water because of a pipe that was hooked up to the wrong section at an NT mine
Radiation dose register fails Northern Territory, Andrea Hayward May 31, 2011 Sydney Morning Herald Half of Australia’s uranium mine workers have been left off the National Radiation Dose Register, a Senate hearing has heard.
Australian Greens senator Scott Ludlam said it was revealed in Senate estimates that workers at uranium mines in the Northern Territory had not been included on the register. Read more »
Good news on minimising medical radiation for Australian children
The government’s decision to allow GPs to order MRI scans could prove lifesaving for children with cancers who would otherwise lose time waiting for a specialist appointment
GPs get the go-ahead to order less risky scans, Sydney Morning Herald, Amy Corderoy, May 17, 2011 THE federal government will allow GPs to order magnetic resonance imaging scans to stop patients being sent for riskier and less sensitive imaging such as computed tomography scans.
New research shows the number of children undergoing CT scans has grown by 5.1 per cent a year over the past 20 years. Read more »
Health organisations urge Australian government to withdraw Nuclear Waste Bill
Leading health organisations including MAPW and the Public Health Association have signed a statement calling for a comprehensive inquiry into the production of radioisotopes (including non-nuclear-reactor sources) and the disposal of nuclear medicine, before any action is taken to advance any national radioactive waste dump.
The Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia) has called on the government to withdraw the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill . If passed the legislation would see Muckaty, 120km north of Tennant Creek, as the only site initially assessed for a radioactive waste dump. Read more »
Radiation’s cruel legacy to Australian soldiers
Many of the servicemen began dying of horrific cancers, while others, like Bob, passed their damaged genes onto their children
Nuclear tests ravage family’s health Nine News 24 April 11, A Perth family has been plagued by serious illness and premature deaths for three generations, after inheriting damaged genes from a serviceman used as a human guinea pig for British nuclear tests in Australia more than half a century ago. Read more »
Inadequacy of health study into Australian nuclear veterans
Letter to Governor General from Major Alan Batchelor Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 11 April 11, Quote:
29 March 2011 “…….requests a review and cancellation of the currently accepted study of the health of Australian nuclear veterans contained in Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests in Australia by Dr Gun et al. Both the hazardous environments and resulting detriments to the health of many nuclear veterans have been incorrectly assessed in this document, leading to many false exposure and compensation assumptions that also need revision and remedial action…….
The basis on which the Cancer and Mortality Study was constructed omits several important areas of consideration and makes no effort to explain the effect of these omissions.
• It confined the study to the carcinogenic effects of ionising radiation, ignoring:
o Non-carcinogenic effects following exposure to internal radioactive emitters with long biological half-lifes resulting in;
• Loss of immune competence,
• Short and long term sterility, miscarriages, stillbirths, etc,
• Heredity defects in subsequent generations,…….
The above background discussion provides a number of conditions that reduce the viability of the Cancer and Mortality Study and should have, as a minimum, been taken into account in the findings. In addition, Royal Commission Conclusion 201 (15.6.13) goes even further and questions the feasibility of attempting such a study:
“Because of the deficiencies in the available data, there is now little prospect of carrying out any worthwhile epidemiological study of those involved in the tests nor of others who might have been directly affected by them.” Letter to Governor General from Major Alan Batchelor « Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog
Australian government advises on radiation exposure
Gov’t issues radiation advise in lieu of nuclear accidents in Japan , Business and HealthBy Alyangka Francheska | March 28, 2011 The Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA) and Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has issued the following advice on exposure to radiation arising from nuclear incidents in Japan, Read more »
Australian may be victim of Japan radiation poisoning
Aussie survivor fears radiation poisoning , THE AUSTRALIAN, Greg Stolz, March 15, 2011 THE agony continues for an Australian teacher who may have radiation poisoning from a Japanese nuclear plant explosion, despite her safe arrival back home yesterday.
Hospital tests performed on 27-year-old Emily Peck have not yet revealed whether she was exposed to the fallout from the Fukushima reactor. She may have to be referred to a nuclear radiation specialist in Brisbane…..http://www.theaustralian.com.au/aussie-survivor-fears-radiation-poisoning/story-fn84naht-1226021386547
Martin Ferguson’s lie about medical radioactive waste
Ferguson has been selling his contentious National Radioactive Waste Management Bill on the false notion that such a dump, to be developed at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory, is in the community interest as a repository for Australia’s nuclear medicine waste.
Furphies abound in Ferguson’s nuclear agenda, Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Peter Karamoskos, March 2, 2011, As Resources Minister Martin Ferguson pushes Australia into a new future of expanding uranium exports to southern Asia and pushes nuclear power back onto the political agenda, the public will have to be duped into accepting the reality of nuclear waste dumps on Australian soil. Read more »
This month
For international news, go to nuclear-news ion for Western Australia’s energy future
http://ifyoulovethisplanet.org/?p=5755 Mary Olson on how women are more vulnerable to atomic radiation
- Muckaty Gathering 25 May 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1J9q-OeEO4 - NuclearKop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpMhhzkeYjk
Anti nuclear action below: - more info at Action Australia « Antinuclear and at Event details « Antinuclear
- http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/put-the-brakes-on-toxic-trucks-no-nuclear-waste-at-muckaty
- Online Petition - against the proposed national radioactive waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitions/no-nuclear-waste-dump-at-muckaty.htmlUranium Free WA Sign the online charter saying no to uranium mining in Western Australia http://ccwa.org.au/takeaction/uraniumnotforsaleSIGN THE PETITION TO STOP LYNAS RARE EARTH EXPORTS TO MALAYSIA http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ban-rare-earth-exports/
EVENTS
- May 29 – Melbourne - Amnesty International panel on weapons and war .
- May 29 – 30 Melbourne - Wind Farms conference
- May 30 Darwin - expert Panel on Nuclear Waste Dump plan for Muckaty
- June 2 - Nuclear Abolition Day
- June 13 - Melbourne -Lizards Revenge -Shut Roxby Down
- June 14 Melbourne Beyond Zero Emissions ZCA 2020 plan.
- June 19 - Melbourne Public meeting US FORCES IN AUSTRALIA: SECURITY OR THREAT? USforcesflyer-2.pdf
The Nuclear/uranium industry and WOMEN - theme for May 2012
Deceptive information given to women about breast cancer. Women are repeatedly told about “genetic causes”, about “risks of obesity:. about “diet factors”, about “not having babies”, or “having a baby at a later age” even about “stress” – as causes of breast cancer. The not so subtle message is that it is THEIR FAULT – a problem caused by the individual woman, so – the only preventive actions must be those made by individual women.
The facts are otherwise. The single most proven cause of breast cancer is ionising radiation. After that, other environmental causes exist, amongst the wash of chemicals, and synthetic hormones, that pervade our environment. After that – probably some hereditary susceptability, amongst some women.
Why is this so? One could conclude that breast cancer is a growth industry. There’s money at every point in this sorry cycle – from the radiation from nuclear fuel through to the medical radiation used to detect and treat breast cancer. There is no money clearly involved in shutting down a toxic industry, and preventing millions of breast cancers.
How does ionising radiation cause breast cancer? Ionising radiation comes in several forms. for example, Gamma rays, x-rays, and some sub-atomic particles such as alpha particles and protons In ionising radiation, a tiny electron is released from an atom, and enters a body cell, hitting the DNA in the cell’s nucleus, and damaging it. The damaged DNA sends out ‘wrong’ messages telling the cell to divide in an uncontrolled manner – cancer develops.
“...the time between radiation exposure and breast cancer development is longest in young women and shortest for older women; young children do not show a detectable elevation in breast cancer occurrence for some 35 to 40 years after exposure. Radiation-induced breast cancers appear to occur later in life during the same ages when breast cancer rates, in general, begin to increase. It appears that a single exposure of sufficient dose during early life can increase breast cancer risk even 50 years later...
the relationship between radiation dose and breast cancer risk can be described by a straight line which implies that no matter how low the dose, there is some small risk associated with the exposure.…
The risk of subsequent breast cancer from very high doses is lower than that which might be expected from the effects of lower doses. This is because radiation at high doses is an effective killer of cells and dead cells are not able to develop into cancer…..
Young girls are at highest risk …when a young girl is exposed to radiation, she will have menstrual cycles for several decades that might enhance the development of any underlying damage caused by the radiation. There is evidence to suggest that exposure to the immature breast during early development, and around the age of beginning menstruation, carries a higher risk than at other times of a woman’s life.
It is unclear how radiation exposure of the breast during pregnancy affects a woman’s breast cancer risk. However, a recent study of women treated for Hodgkin’s disease concluded that pregnancy might be a time of increased sensitivity of breast tissue to the cancercausing effects of radiation……”
.” John D Boyce, Jr, DSc, Scientific Director,Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in New York State.. Ionizing Radiation and Breast Cancer Risk
