How much radiation is in a mammogram?
With modern mammography equipment used specifically for breast x-rays, very low levels of radiation are used, usually about 0.1 to 0.2 rad dose per x-ray, similar to the amount used when a dentist x-rays your mouth. To put this dose into perspective, a woman who receives radiation treatment for breast cancer may receive several thousand rads. In contrast, if a woman has yearly mammograms beginning at age 40 years and continues until 90, she will have received less that 10 rads. The government has established strict requirements for mammography facilities to ensure that they use the lowest dose of radiation possible.
