X-Rays | Community Health

X-rays are a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than ultraviolet rays and longer than gamma rays, discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895. With a wavelength range of 10 nanometers to 10 picometers, X-rays have revolutionized medical diagnostics and materials science, but also pose health risks due to their ionizing properties. Today, X-ray technology is used in various fields, including medicine, security, and industry, with ongoing research focused on improving safety and efficacy. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide guidelines for safe X-ray use, while the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) supports research on new X-ray technologies. As of 2022, over 5 billion X-ray procedures are performed worldwide each year, with the global X-ray market projected to reach $15.4 billion by 2025.