Does radiation from security checks, WIFI, mobile phones, etc. have any effect on pregnant women?

When it comes to radiation, people tend to be very scared, not to mention pregnant women during their special period. So, does radiation from X-ray examinations, mobile phones, induction cookers, subway security checks, etc. have any effect on pregnant women?

X-rays aren't that powerful.

X-rays can change the state of atoms or molecules, leading to changes in cell function and genetic structure. If pregnant mothers are exposed to more than a certain amount of X-rays, it may cause miscarriage, deformity, or cancer in the fetus. So, should we not do X-ray examinations during pregnancy? What should we do if we have to do it?

In fact, X-rays do not have the powerful power to "hurt people with just one exposure". The key to their harm depends on two points: the exposure dose and the exposure site.

First, look at the radiation dose. Whether it is for adults or fetuses, radiation exceeding a certain amount may cause damage to the body. The guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2017 pointed out that as long as the radiation dose does not exceed 50mSV (millisievert), it will not cause damage to the fetus. The radiation dose of an ordinary chest X-ray is 0.02mSV, which is far less than 50mSV.

Second, look at the irradiated part. The possibility of injury varies depending on the part of the body being irradiated. The radiation dose of an ordinary chest X-ray is 0.02mSV, while the radiation doses of a dental X-ray and a knee X-ray are only 0.01mSV and 0.005mSV respectively. Generally, the damage caused by chest X-rays is greater than that of other parts, but it is also within the acceptable minimum dose range.

Therefore, the sayings such as "you can't take X-rays when you are pregnant" and "you will have a miscarriage if you take X-rays" are all nonsense. Among various examination methods, the radiation amount of X-rays is less than that of CT and less than that of nuclear medicine examinations, and B-ultrasound and MRI do not have ionizing radiation, so pregnant women can rest assured to take B-ultrasound examinations.

Subway security check: Try to bypass the baggage security scanner

Some pregnant mothers have to take the subway to go to get off work every day. Does the security check machine at the subway entrance have radiation? Will it affect the fetus?

Subway security inspection machines are generally divided into two parts: security gates and X-ray baggage security scanners. The security gates are mainly used to detect metals, relying on weak electromagnetic fields to work, and the normal output voltage is very small, which will not cause adverse effects on the human body or pregnant mothers and fetuses.

X-ray baggage security scanners, on the other hand, emit ionizing radiation. Since they scan objects rather than human bodies, the radiation dose is greater than that of medical X-ray machines, of course, this refers to the interior of the scanner. There is a lead curtain in front of the scanner, which is a protective device to prevent X-rays from leaking out.

When the security scanner is in operation, the luggage will constantly open the lead curtain, especially during rush hour when there are many people. The curtain is basically half-open, and if it encounters a large bag, it will even be fully open. Some people are often eager to get their luggage back and open the curtain of the security scanner. Opening the lead curtain will undoubtedly expose yourself to radiation danger.

Therefore, when going through security checks, pregnant women are advised to stay away from the baggage security scanner as much as possible and go around it if possible. Even if they have luggage to go through security checks, they must wait until all the items come out of the conveyor belt before reaching out to take them, and do not linger near the curtain.

Mobile phones, WIFI, microwave ovens, induction cookers, no need to worry about ionizing radiation

Mobile phones, computers, WIFI, microwave ovens, induction cookers, etc., which are commonly used in daily life, all emit non-ionizing radiation, which has relatively low energy and decays quickly with distance, and is unlikely to affect the human body and fetus. Pregnant women will not be affected as long as they are not close to electrical appliances and stay a few dozen centimeters away.

"Radiation-proof maternity clothes" are very popular on the market now. If you feel that there is too much radiation around you and are really worried about the fetus being affected, you can buy some and wear them. But in daily life, it is completely fine for pregnant women not to wear radiation-proof clothes.

Remember: It is not advisable for pregnant women to be overly anxious. Keep yourself in a good mood so that the fetus will be healthier.