Radiation protection for children
The European Commission, DG XII, has published a report entitled "European guidelines on quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images in paediatrics". The report is based on the work of a group of European paediatric radiologists. The Community's work in this area started in 1984, when the Council adopted Directive 84/466/EURATOM on the radiation protection of patients. Following the elaboration of quality criteria for adults in respect of radiological exposure, it was recognized that specific criteria for children had to be developed, in view of the greater risk of detrimental effects in later life. The detrimental effects of radiation exposure are three to four times more likely to manifest themselves following childhood exposure than after exposure between the ages of 30 and 40, and five to seven times more likely than after exposure after the age of 50. These substantial differences have led to the group defining separate standards for radiation protection of children.