But if you live near the site of a nuclear accident, you're exposed to large amounts of radiation. For example, when you go through a full-body airport scanner, you're exposed to very small amounts of radiation. Some sources of radiation give off larger amounts than others. What are the kinds of radiation exposure? But exposure to large amounts all at once may cause radiation sickness and death. A person who has been exposed to large amounts of radiation from a nuclear accident is more likely to get cancer than someone who has not been exposed.Įxposure to small amounts of radiation doesn't cause any symptoms.A child who was treated with radiation for cancer early in life is more likely to get another cancer later in life.The risk of a child getting cancer from the same CT scan can be much higher. The risk of an adult getting cancer from a CT scan is less than 1 in 1,000. CT scans generally use more radiation than other X-ray tests. Someone who has had many CT scans starting at a young age is more likely to get cancer later in life than someone who hasn't had any or as many of these tests.In general, the younger you are when you are exposed to radiation, the greater the risk of cancer. It depends on the source and amount of radiation exposure, the number of exposures over time, and your age at exposure. The chance of getting cancer from radiation exposure varies from person to person. Over time, radiation exposure may cause cancer and other health problems. There is always a risk of damage to cells or tissue from being exposed to any amount of ionizing radiation. What are the risks of being exposed to radiation? The other half comes from man-made sources like medical tests, treatments, and nuclear power plants. Radioactivity is ionizing radiation that is given off by things like uranium as they decay.Ībout half of the ionizing radiation we're exposed to comes from nature. Radiation is energy that travels as a wave or particle.

X ray radiation exposure