ABSTRACT
Medical imaging is by far the largest artificial source of exposure of the population worldwide and continues to grow considerably. It accounts for about 98% of all exposures from artificial sources, representing approximately 20% of the total population dose worldwide. The distribution of medical exposures is uneven among countries and regions. Sixty-six percent of diagnostic radiology procedures, 90% of nuclear medicine procedures, and 70% of radiation therapy treatments are performed in industrialized countries, where only a quarter of the world’s population live.
The United Nations General Assembly expressed in several resolutions, 1 between 2010 and 2016, its awareness of the continuing need to examine and compile information on medical exposure and of the increased volume, complexity, and diversity of that information, and welcomed the UNSCEAR’s strategy to improve data collection on medical exposure.
Despite the current level of knowledge about radiation-induced health effects, more targeted research is needed. There are uncertainties in estimating cancer risks due to medical radiation exposure. An improved understanding in this area, based on research, evidence, and robust scientific debate will lead to better application of UNSCEAR’s survey data and will result in targeted actions on radiation protection.
