In clinical medicine, patients are exposed to varying doses of ionising radiation depending on the diagnostic imaging modality. The table below displays the average effective radiation dose for two types of examinations: a mammogram and a fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedure.
| Examination type | Average radiation dose in millisieverts (mSv) |
|---|---|
| Mammogram | 0.12 |
| Fluoroscopy-guided intervention | 15.0 |
The risk of developing a radiation-induced cancer is estimated to be approximately 1 in 18,000 for each mSv of effective radiation dose received.
Compare the risk of developing cancer from having a fluoroscopy-guided intervention with the risk from having a mammogram. Use the data in the table.
Practise AQA GCSE Physics Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation (physics only) with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 16 questions covering Background radiation, Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes, and Uses of nuclear radiation, matched to the AQA GCSE Physics (8463) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.