Radiation exposure of the embryo/foetus and the newborn child

This chapter addresses risks and radiation protection aspects in medical exposures when embryo/foetus or infants are involved, following exposures of pregnant women or breastfeeding women, including patients or workers. The effects of radiation in prenatal exposures in the different periods of pregnancy from preimplantation to embryonic and foetal periods, taking into consideration, among others, the effects on mental development and the carcinogenic risks, are presented. Diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures in relation to pregnancy are considered. Patients administered with radiopharmaceuticals normally have family members at home, other persons taking care or giving comfort to the patient and close friends; thus, radiation protection takes into account also the protection of these individuals and in particular of children and pregnant females among them. In nuclear medicine, the staff members should pay attention in handling radiopharmaceuticals in relation to external and internal exposures, in particular for 131I therapeutic doses. A pregnant or breastfeeding female worker should not work in areas of significant contamination risk.