structural:scholar_edition, structural:reformatting
Radiation exposure

DXA uses X-rays to measure bone mineral density. The radiation dose of DEXA systems is small, as low as 0.001 mSv, much less than a standard chest or dental x-ray. However, the dose delivered by older DEXA radiation sources (that used radioisotopes rather than x-ray generators) could be as high as 35 mGy, considered a significant dose by radiological health standards.