Study Shows Low Radiation Doses May Harm CV System

The results of a new study indicate that even low levels of X-Rays can harm the human cardiovascular system.

The researchers found that even low doses of ionizing radiation, around 0.5 Gy, from recurring CT imaging scans for example are associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular damage, even as long as decades after radiation exposure.

The study was published online in the July 11, 2017, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Biology by researchers at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (Munich, Germany).

The researchers found several permanent alterations in human coronary artery endothelial cells as a result of a 0.5 Gy radiation dose that could negatively affect essential cell functions. More...