[The radiation risks from x-ray studies for age assessment in criminal proceedings]

Abstract

Aim: Age estimation for forensic purposes is, in general, based on a radiogram of the left hand or an orthopantomogram of the teeth. Two examples are given exemplifying the principal procedure that may be applied for estimating the radiation risks associated with the radiological examinations considered.

Method: Mortality risks were calculated using the risk coefficients of ICRP and the mass ratio of radiation-exposed portion to total organ. For a radiogram of the hand, a radiation dose of 0.15 mGy was adopted. For an orthopantomogram the following doses were used: bone surface and red bone marrow 0.25 mGy, skin on the neck 0.56 mGy, thyroid gland 0.053 mGy.

Results: Mortality risks obtained were 5.1 x 10(-8) for a radiogram of the hand and 1.8 x 10(-7) for an orthopantomogram. For comparison, it was estimated that the calculated risks might be equivalent to the mortality risks associated with public road traffic during less than one hour or about 2.5 hours, respectively.

Conclusions: The calculated radiation risks are of a similar order of magnitude as are the risks the respective person is exposed to on the way to the medical examination or to the court. However, the applicability and the limits of the radiological procedures applied for age estimation require extensive and critical discussion.