Benoit,
One does not become "radioactive" by being exposed to radiation. The only
things in nature that become radioactive are the unstable isotopes of
certain elements (uranium, plutonium, etc.). By being radiated with x-rays,
one is simply being exposed to a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, of
which visible light is a part. The danger comes from being exposed to the
rays time and again, as each time the energy passes through the body, it
makes minute changes to the cells' DNA. Over time these changes can lead to
genetic mutations and cancer.
The only time a therapist would be at risk from a radiated patient would be
one of the following:
a) The therapist is present when the patient is irradiated (i.e. being
present for a swallow evaluation)
b) The patient has cancer and is being treated by having radioactive
material placed on or in their bodies near the tumor site
If it were true that anything exposed to radiation became radioactive, then
we would all be radioactive. The sun is our largest source of all types of
electromagnetic radiation, including x-rays. Lucky for us, most of these
harmful rays are absorbed by our atmosphere (including our much depleted
ozone layer).
I hope I brought some "light" to the subject (he he)
G
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