X-ray diagnostics in Poland--doses and risks

This article refers to radiation risk resulting from X-ray diagnostics in the Polish population. Frequency of the examinations were reviewed on the basis of data from the national survey performed in 1986. The doses to patients at different age were evaluated taking into consideration the exposure parameters really used during particular examinations. The mean effective dose for a statistical patient in Poland was found to be 2.8 mSv. This denotes that all X-ray diagnostic examinations yield the mean effective dose of 1.6 mSv per capita, i.e. more than 60% of mean effective dose from natural background radiation.