Whereas anyone is at risk to suffer health problems because of radiation, a fetus is even more vulnerable to the effects of radiation.
Last year, a leak at the Hanford Nuclear site in Washington State caused a 400 percent increase in rare birth defects. Radiation has been known to cause several birth defects, including shortened stature, intellectual disabilities and cranial and brain malformations, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
Three counties near the Hanford Nuclear site saw a major increase in anencephaly, which is a birth defect involving missing portions of the brain, skull and scalp. The counties that showed an increase in anencephaly were Yakima, Benton and Franklin. The nuclear facility is in center of these three counties.
This nuclear disaster, and other similar incidents, are one of the few known causes of radiation exposure in children.
How Can Expecting Mothers Be Exposed to Radiation?
Radiation can cause serious damage at the cellular level to newborns, which can cause mutations in the DNA. The following are ways that a mother and her newborn can be exposed to radiation:
- X-ray tests by a doctor, dentist or other healthcare professional.
- Radiation from the workplace or from an environmental hazard by way of an accidental leak or other exposure.
It is essential that you inform your medical professional that you are pregnant if you are visiting a physician or dentist or your employer if you work in an industry that could expose you to radiation.
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Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers
