Questions have been raised over the "dental X-ray" method used by a Hong Kong-based NGO for determination of the age of unregistered children here in collaboration with a local dental college.
The NGO, however, rejected the charge holding it had applied only a "tested and proven" method developed by clinicians in India and abroad.
Dubbing it as "unethical and illegal", former Secretary of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), K S Parthasarathy, today claimed this method of imaging of bones or teeth can never indicate precisely the chronological age of an individual.
He was referring to media reports that the NGO, Date of Birth Foundation (DoBF), has issued age certificates to as many as 102 children including orphans after a dental college in Navi Mumbai carried out jaw line X-rays and calcium tests.
"On the basis of my own experience and different citations of journals and institutes, I roundly condemn that the children's age determination by using dental x-rays is unethical, imprecise and potentially illegal," Parthsarathy said in a statement.
Citing various medical reviews from British Medical Bulletin, Medical Research Council's Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health, UCI Institute of Child Health-UK, Centre for Migration Policy Research, Department of General Paediatrics of Great Ormond Street Hospital London, he said imaging of bones or teeth can never indicate precisely the chronological age of the individual.
Countering the argument that age determination is an administrative requirement, he also said that use of X-rays for satisfying an administrative reason is not justified.
X-ray is a double-edged sword. Children are vulnerable and are many more times radiosensitive than adults, he said.
Dental x-rays expose radiosensitive tissues such as bone marrow, thyroid, brain and eye lens, and unnecessary application of x-rays which is a potential carcinogen and can in no way be justified unless the exposed subject has direct health benefit, Parthasarathy added.
The Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004 read with the mandatory Safety Code on Regulation of Nuclear and Radiation Facilities calls for strict adherence to AERB regulations with respect to radiation protection, he said.
