Hidden Radiation Exposure: Daily Life vs Medical Imaging

Radiation is a natural and unavoidable part of human life, present in the environment as well as in medical imaging procedures. While many people fear radiation from diagnostic imaging such as X-rays and CT scans, they are often unaware of the hidden radiation exposure received from natural background sources like radon gas, sunlight, and soil. This study aimed to evaluate public awareness regarding hidden radiation exposure in daily life compared with medical imaging radiation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 participants of different age groups using a structured questionnaire. The study assessed awareness about radiation sources, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, natural background radiation, and imaging modalities involving radiation exposure. The results showed that the majority of participants belonged to the 15–25 years age group, with females representing a higher proportion of respondents. Most participants had heard about radiation exposure (94.2%) and believed that radiation exists in daily life (90.8%). A large proportion correctly identified multiple radiation sources and recognized radon gas as the major source of natural background radiation. Most respondents also understood that X-rays and CT scans use ionizing radiation, whereas MRI does not. Additionally, 82.5% of participants were aware that CT scans deliver higher radiation doses than conventional X-rays. Despite the overall good level of awareness, some misconceptions regarding non-ionizing radiation and natural radiation exposure were still observed. The study concludes that although awareness regarding medical imaging radiation is relatively high, hidden daily-life radiation exposure remains less clearly understood among some individuals. Public education programs are essential to improve understanding of radiation sources, reduce unnecessary fear regarding medical imaging, and promote informed healthcare decisions