Discovery of Harmful Effects - DOE-HDBK-1109-97

DOE-HDBK-1109-97

Radiological Safety Training for Radiation-Producing (X-Ray) Devices

Instructor's Guide

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

ii. Discovery of Harmful Effects.

Because virtually no protective measures were used

in those early days, it was not long after the

discovery of X-rays before people began to learn

about their harmful effects. X-ray workers were

exposed to very large doses of radiation, and skin

damage from that exposure was observed and

documented early in 1896. In March of that year,

Thomas Edison reported eye injuries from working

with X-rays. By June, experimenters were being

cautioned not to get too close to X-ray tubes. By

the end of that year, reports were being circulated

about cases of hair loss, reddened skin, skin

sloughing off, and lesions. Some X-ray workers

lost fingers, and some eventually contracted cancer.

By the early 1900s, the potential carcinogenic

effect of X-ray exposure in humans had been

reported.

Since that time, more than a billion dollars has been

spent in this country alone on research investigating

the biological effects of ionizing radiation.

National and international agencies have formed to

aid in the standardization of the uses of X-rays to

ensure safer practices.