Radiation risk factor
Last revised by Sean McGurk
on 11 Oct 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Vajuhudeen Z, McGurk S, Campos A, et al. Radiation risk factor. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-79872
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rID:
79872
Article created:
6 Jul 2020,
Zemar Vajuhudeen
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Zemar Vajuhudeen had no recorded disclosures.
View Zemar Vajuhudeen's current disclosures
Last revised:
11 Oct 2024,
Sean McGurk
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Sean McGurk had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Sean McGurk's current disclosures
Revisions:
4 times, by
4 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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The radiation risk factor is the total lifetime risk of radiation-induced fatal cancer for the general population.
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) quantifies the radiation risk factor as 5% (5 in 100) per Sv, or 0.005% (1 in 20,000) per mSv.
These figures are based on epidemiological data sources such as:
atomic bomb survivors
occupational exposure
medical exposures
Importantly, this estimate can be used to determine the risk of radiation exposure from radiological procedures in medical practice.
The risk profile changes with respect to varying demographics. The radiation risk factor is larger in children (<18 years) by a factor of 2-3, as their rapidly growing cells are more susceptible to mutation, and they have most of their lives still ahead of them. In older age groups (>60 years), where there is less time for a cancer to develop, the radiation risk factor is reduced by a factor of 5.
References
- 1. Preface, Executive Summary and Glossary. Ann ICRP. 2007;37(2-4):9-34. doi:10.1016/j.icrp.2007.10.003 - Pubmed
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