The editorial published in BMJ, written by: Isobel Pilkington,  Hannah Sevenoaks,  Emily James, focuses on the need for better protection of female healthcare workers from ionising radiation exposure at work, especially with regard to protecting breast tissue. 

It highlights that current lead or lead-equivalent gowns used during image-guided procedures are not adequately protecting the breast tissue, specifically the upper outer quadrant and axilla which are commonly exposed. 

The paper suggests exposure to ionising radiation has been linked to a higher risk of developing breast cancer, a risk that increases linearly with the level of exposure and cites a number of sources including: 

Breast Radiation Exposure in Female Orthopaedic Surgeons; Lindsey C Valone 1 , Monique Chambers 2   etal: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27807113/

The editorial calls for improved gowns that offer better breast coverage as a way to mitigate this occupational hazard and potentially reduce the incidence of breast cancer in female healthcare workers.

Article Link: 
https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2023-075406.full

For more information on how Rothband has worked with healthcare professionals to meet this need:  https://rothband.com/mammo-shield