X-rays are a common diagnostic tool in modern medicine. People have them for broken bones, for dental examinations, and other medical reasons. Yet before most x-rays, the doctor or dentist hands the patient a lead vest, or covers other parts in lead. This leads to the question, just how safe are x-rays?
X-rays rely on radiation, but they are not the only piece of modern technology to do so. Televisions and radio also use a form of radiation to relay their signals. There is also ambient radiation from the sun and outer space to which every living thing on the planet is exposed every day. X-rays have also been around and in use longer than other modern devices such as cell phones and computers which also have been found to emit radiation. Unlike some devices which scatter radiation everywhere, x-ray machines are shielded to focus the radiation at a specific target.
As with any source of radiation, the key component with regards to health risks is exposure. Some forms of radiation can cause irreparable harm in a short amount of time. X-rays that are used for medical purposes are used briefly, but in this case the overall health risk is low. Prolonged exposure to an x-ray could be serious, but it would require a much longer time than the milliseconds of exposure which occurs in a hospital or dentist's office. Nor do x-rays linger in the body. This means there is also no cumulative effect, which can create long-term exposure in other radiation types.
