Have you ever wondered how many X-rays are safe in a year? When your doctor orders an occasional X-ray, you probably focus on the findings, not the amount of radiation you’ll be exposed to. But if you need numerous tests, you may wonder if you’re getting too much radiation exposure and how it might affect you. The concern about radiation exposure is an increased risk for developing cancer later in life. Ionizing radiation from tests such as X-rays has the potential to damage tissue in the body, including cell DNA. In this blog post, we will explore the safety of X-rays and how many are considered safe in a year. Lets learn about the unit of measurement first. The radiation dose absorbed by a person (that is, the amount of energy deposited in human tissue by radiation) is measured using the conventional unit rad or the SI unit gray (Gy). The biological risk of exposure to radiation is measured using the conventional unit rem or the SI unit sievert (Sv). To determine a person’s bio...