A Study of Human Radiation Sensing and Dark Adaptometry Using X-Rays

Thirty-one patient volunteers underwent dark adaptometry studies before and after a true or sham series of skull x-rays. There was no significant change in the cone plateau or rod cone break which could be attributed to the radiation. Although it did not reach our criterion for statistical significance, there was a suggestion that the rod plateau was decreased following radiation. Incorporated into the study was a radiation sensing test using the Townes' view of the skull series. There was no evidence that the subjects could detect the radiation under the usual clinical conditions. A second study confirmed that humans can easily detect the presence of radiation from a standard set of skull x-rays while dark-adapted. Future paths of investigation are suggested.