MADISON, 15 August 2002 -- A recent article published by University of Wisconsin-Madison emeritus professor John R. Cameron suggests that we all need more radiation for good health.

Cameron's article in the July issue of the British Journal of Radiology outlines evidence that a moderate annual dose of radiation increases longevity. He also outlined his findings last week at the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute in Bethesda, Md.

According to Cameron, British radiologists who entered the field between 1955 and 1979 had a 29 percent lower cancer death rate compared to all other male English physicians of the same age. Radiologists also had a 36 percent lower death rate from non-cancer causes and a 32 percent lower death rate from all causes.

The chances of such a health improvement being accidental is less than one in a thousand, Cameron says. The lower death rate from all causes results in more than a three-year increase in longevity -- the same increase in longevity that would result if all cancer were curable.

In addition, Cameron discussed similar news from a U.S. government sponsored study that he participated in which shows that the 28,000 nuclear shipyard workers with the greatest radiation doses, when compared to 32,500 shipyard workers who had no on-the-job radiation, had significantly less cancer and a 24 percent lower death rate from all causes. That is, the nuclear workers had an almost three-year increase in longevity, Cameron says. The chance of that health improvement being accidental is less than one in 10 million billion.

Cameron has been recognized for his contributions in the fields of radiation and radiology by various national and international organizations. In 1960, he was the inventor of the bone densitometer to detect and accurately measure bone density, which indicates the presence or absence of osteoporosis. There are now about 50,000 such instruments in the world.

To read the British Journal of Radiology article, visit: http://bjr.birjournals.org/cgi/content/full/75/895/637

For another Cameron article on the subject, in Physics and Society (October 2001), visit:
http://www.aps.org/units/fps/newsletters/2001/october/a5oct01.html

 

This September 2003 edition, written by Prof Dr Ng Kwan Hoong, has been published for the Malaysian Multimedia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).  This Commission regulates telecommunications and multimedia industries. It helps to separate facts from the myths surrounding the use of mobile phones and the safety issues regarding base stations. Presented in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) manner, some of the human health effects from mobile phones and base station antennas are addressed. Some regulatory aspects are specific to Malaysia. For more information and how to get a copy of the book, contact the MCMC.
 

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Radiation Dose to Patients Undergoing Interventional Radiological Procedures in Selected Hospitals in Malaysia: Retrospective Study

B Sapiin, KH Ng, BJJ Abdullah

Interventional radiology is an essential part of modern patient treatment, and fluoroscopically guided interventional radiological procedures have been increasingly practised in the past 10 years. A survey on radiation dosage for interventional radiological procedures was initiated because of the increasing use of radiation in angiography and cardiac catheterization laboratories. The number of cardiac diagnostic radiology procedures was found to have increased by 190% for 1990 to 1994 in Malaysia. In addition, the number of angiographic machines has increased in Malaysia by 680% from 1990 to 2000.

J HK Coll Radiol 2004; 7:129-136

A study of mean glandular dose during diagnostic mammography in Malaysia and some of the factors affecting it

By N Jamal, MSc, K-H Ng, PhD, DABMP, MIPEM and D McLean, PhD.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the mean glandular dose (MGD) during diagnostic mammography in Malaysia. The secondary objective was to evaluate some of the factors affecting MGD. A survey of standard MGD was performed, based upon quality control records for the period October 1999 to August 2001.

The mean MGD per woman was 3.37mGy. It was also found that there was no significant difference in the MGD per woman among the ethnic groups (p>0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). However, on the multivariate test two factors, namely half value layer of the X-ray beam and (CBT), had a significant effect on MGD per woman (p<0.05). No significant relationships were seen between MGD per woman with respect to ethnicity, body mass index or age.

Br J Radiol 2003;76 238-245

A review of medical exposures from diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine

By Dr Ng Kwan-Hoong Prof Ng Kwan-Hoong, PhD, MIPEM, DABMP; Department of Radiology, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia

There is a continuing need to analyze the frequencies, doses and trends of all radiological procedures. Such information permits comparison with medical radiation usage in other parts of the world, comparisons with other sources of radiation, identification of areas of concern, and estimation of associated detriment. It helps to assess how the introduction of new techniques, radiation protection regulations or quality programmes affect the trends (Bennett, 1991; UNSCEAR, 2000).

The UNSCEAR 2000 Report (1991-1996) includes diagnostic x-ray examination data from Malaysia for the first time.  In 1994, a total of 3.6 million x-ray examinations were performed in Malaysia; the annual effective dose per caput to the population is estimated as 0.05 mSv and the total annual collective dose, 1000 man-Sv.

This lecture was given at the Bengkel Perlaksanaan MS:ISO 9002 bagi Perkhidmatan Pengimejan Diagnostik di Hospital – Hospital Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, Langkawi 29 Oktober 2001.

Usage of Medical Radiation for Radiological Procedures in Malaysia - 1990-1994

Medical radiation usage for radiological procedures in Malaysia for 1990-1994 is reported; this information allows comparisons to be made with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) Report. Additionally it is essential information for health care planners and providers. Malaysia is categorised as a health care level II country based on the UNSCEAR definition. In 1994, the number of physicians, radiologists, x-ray units and x-ray examinations per 1000 population was 0.45, 0.005, 0.065 and 183 respectively. 3.6 million x-ray examinations were performed in 1994, with chest radiography being the commonest study (63%). Examination frequency increased in computed tomography (161%), cardiac procedures (190%), and mammography (240%); while a decrease in barium studies (-23%), cholecystography (-36%), and intravenous urography (-51%) was noted. There is a potential and need to expand and upgrade radiological services.

Medical Journal of Malaysia 1999; 54(2): 185-191

Using the Bert Concept To Promote Public Understanding Of Radiation

Radiation phobia can be greatly decreased if the simple BERT (Background Equivalent Radiation Time) concept is used to explain the dose to all diagnostic radiology patients. It converts the radiation dose to an equivalent period of natural background radiation. It is understandable, it does not mention risk, and it educates the patient that human-made radiation is the same as the background radiation which gives them most of their annual dose. Medical physicists should provide each clinical x-ray unit with a table that gives the BERT value for various procedures and patient sizes and educate the radiologists and radiographers how to use the BERT approach for relieving radiation anxiety. 

Ref: International conference on the radiological protection of patients organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Málaga, Spain, 26-30 March 2001. C&S PapersSeries 7/P, 784-787.

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