The Invisible Hazard
Radiation is energy moving in waves or particles, and while much of it is harmless, the ionising radiation used in X-rays is not. It can break DNA, disrupt cell repair, and over time, leave lasting damage.
Research shows that highly exposed individuals working in cath labs are 4.5 times more likely to develop cancer compared with non-exposed colleagues [1]. It’s not just numbers — many of us know peers who have suffered radiation-related illness. They weren’t simply “unlucky”; they were exposed.
A Double-Edged Sword
For patients, the benefits of radiation are undeniable: faster interventions, greater resilience, and speedier recoveries. For healthcare professionals, however, the risks stack up. Studies highlight elevated chances of:
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia – 10.5x higher risk of death [2]
Brain Tumours – 2.5x more likely [3]
Posterior Cataracts – 3.9x more likely [3]
Breast Cancer – 16% more likely [3]
And it doesn’t end there.
The Weight We Carry
Even our “protection” isn’t harmless. Heavy lead aprons don’t fully cover the neck, head, arms, and legs. Worse still, wearing them every day comes at a cost.
60% of interventionalists will suffer a disabling back injury after more than 20 years of practice [4].
63% report spine issues, with many unable to fully enjoy life outside the lab — whether that’s exercising, playing with their children, or simply living pain-free [5].
Radiation may be invisible, but the harm it causes, direct and indirect, is all too real.
The Growing Risk
Radiation exposure in interventional cardiology is rising, not falling. As procedure volumes increase and defences wear thin, our vulnerability grows [6].
The Optima Occupational Survey revealed that 90% of professionals are concerned about radiation exposure, and 92% believe hospitals should adopt more protective technology. The message is clear: awareness alone isn’t enough.
Making the Invisible Visible
We cannot eradicate risk, but we can take action. We can:
Educate ourselves and our teams
Talk openly about radiation risks
Demand safer, more advanced protection in our workplaces
Radiation may be invisible, but it should never be ignored. By facing it head-on, we protect not just ourselves, but also the patients who rely on us.
References
1. Andreassi MG, et al. Occupational health risks in cardiac catheterisation laboratory workers. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2016;9(4):e003273.
2. Leuraud K, et al. Ionising radiation and risk of death from leukaemia and lymphoma in radiation-monitored workers (INWORKS): an international cohort study. Lancet Haematol. 2015;2(7):e276–81.
3. Rajaraman P, et al. Incidence and risk factors for posterior subcapsular cataracts among US radiologic technologists. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2016;206(5):1176–82.
Jacob S, et al. Breast cancer risk in radiation-exposed female interventional cardiologists. Int J Cancer.2013;133(8):1843–7.
4. Goldstein JA, Balter S, Cowley M, Hodgson J, Klein LW. Occupational hazards of interventional cardiologists: prevalence of orthopaedic health problems in contemporary practice. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2004;63(4):407–11.
5. Optima Occupational Survey, internal data, 2023.
6. Borghini A, et al. Increased DNA damage in workers occupationally exposed to low doses of ionising radiation: influence of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes. Atherosclerosis. 2013;230(1):40–7.