An occupational health department reviews radiation exposure risks for various diagnostic procedures. The table below outlines the average effective radiation dose in millisieverts (mSv) for two different procedures:
| Diagnostic procedure | Average effective dose (mSv) |
|---|---|
| Digital mammogram | 0.4 |
| FDG PET-CT scan (chest/abdomen) | 14.0 |
The excess lifetime risk of inducing a secondary cancer is estimated to be approximately 1 in 18,000 per mSv of effective dose received.
Compare the risk of developing a radiation-induced cancer from a single FDG PET-CT scan with the risk from a single digital mammogram. Support your comparison with appropriate calculations.
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.