Occupational Prenatal Radiation Exposure and Occupational Safety: Position Paper for Pregnant and breastfeeding Personnel in Interventional Procedures with Ionizing Radiation

Lena Sophie Becker; Thomas Stein; Anne Frisch; Cornelia Lieselotte Angelika Dewald; Sophia Freya Ulrike Blum; Charlotte Wintergerst; Giovanni Torsello; Matti Jonas Peperhove; Gesa Pöhler; Emona Staudacher; Mareike Franke; Stephanie Tritt; Kerstin Westphalen; Philipp Bruners; Stefan Rohde; Bernhard Gebauer; Marco Das; Kerstin Jungnickel; Martin Fiebich; Marcus Katoh; Philipp Paprottka; Michael Uder; Frank K Wacker; Wibke Uller

doi:10.1055/a-2536-7206

RöFo - Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebenden Verfahren, Table of Contents

Rofo
DOI: 10.1055/a-2536-7206

Position Paper

Occupational Prenatal Radiation Exposure and Occupational Safety: Position Paper for Pregnant and breastfeeding Personnel in Interventional Procedures with Ionizing Radiation

Article in several languages: English | deutsch

Lena Sophie Becker

¹Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN9177)

,

Thomas Stein

²Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Freiburg, 79111 Freiburg, Germany

,

Anne Frisch

³Clinic for Radiology, CVK, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN14903)

,

Cornelia Lieselotte Angelika Dewald

¹Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN9177)

,

Sophia Freya Ulrike Blum

⁴Institute and Polyclinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany

,

Charlotte Wintergerst

²Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Freiburg, 79111 Freiburg, Germany

,

Giovanni Torsello

⁵Department of Clinical and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Gottingen, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN27177)

,

Matti Jonas Peperhove

¹Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN9177)

,

Gesa Pöhler

⁶Clinic for Radiology, University of Münster, Muenster, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN9185)

,

Emona Staudacher

⁷Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

,

Mareike Franke

⁸Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland (Ringgold ID: RIN30748)

,

Stephanie Tritt

⁹Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, HELIOS Dr Horst Schmidt Hospitals, Wiesbaden, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN38696)

,

Kerstin Westphalen

¹⁰Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Academic hospital DRK Berlin Kopenick, Berlin, Germany

,

Philipp Bruners

⁷Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

,

Stefan Rohde

¹¹Clinic for Radiology and Neuroradiology, Dortmund Clinic, Dortmund, Germany

,

Bernhard Gebauer

¹²Department of Radiology, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN14903)

,

Marco Das

¹³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, HELIOS Hospital Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN14896)

,

Kerstin Jungnickel

¹⁴Institute for diagnostic and interventional radiology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39067)

,

Martin Fiebich

¹⁵Inst. of Medical Physics, University of Applied Sciences Giessen, Giessen, Germany

,

Marcus Katoh

¹⁶Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany

,

Philipp Paprottka

¹⁷Department of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN27190)

,

Michael Uder

¹⁸Department of Radiology, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN27168)

,

Frank K Wacker

¹Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN9177)

,

Wibke Uller

¹⁹Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background

The increasing number of women working in medical surgical professions involving ionizing radiation creates new challenges for the safety of both pregnant and breastfeeding employees and the management of prenatal radiation exposure. The aim of this manuscript is to discuss the biological effects of loosely-ionizing radiation, evaluate the associated risks, and discuss the principles of German radiation protection law in the context of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Method

To assess the effects of prenatal radiation exposure, we reviewed relevant sources such as reports from the German Commission on Radiological Protection, United Nations Scientific Commission on Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), and publications from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Additionally, the current German legislation, with focus on radiation protection and maternity protection laws, was outlined in context.

Conclusion

The analysis shows that adhering to regulatory dose limits minimizes the risks of pregnancy complications, congenital malformations, developmental delays, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Special attention is required during the first trimester, in which radiation sensitivity is highest. Adherence to legal framework and associated protective measures in Germany provides under certain conditions a safe working environment for pregnant and breastfeeding women in surgical professions that involve ionizing radiation.

Key points

This work highlights that careful risk assessment and strict adherence to radiation protection and occupational safety regulations enable pregnant and lactating women to work safely in areas associated with ionizing radiation and interventional aspects of their occupation. The need for continuous monitoring and adjustment of protective measures as well as the provision of confidential counseling services, are essential to ensure the safety of pregnant and breastfeeding workers and their children.

Citation Format

Becker LS, Stein T, Frisch A et al. Occupational Prenatal Radiation Exposure and Occupational Safety: Position Paper for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Personnel in Interventional Procedures with Ionizing Radiation. Rofo 2025; DOI 10.1055/a-2536-7206

Keywords

interventional procedures - radiation safety - pregnancy

Full Text

References

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