They are set to take their concerns public this week, scientists concerned about risks associated with growing use of radiology in the United States, say.

The New York Times has reported that the scientists say they will speak up Tuesday at a Food and Drug Administration meeting on protecting patients from unnecessary exposure to radiation.

Citing FDA documents and interviews with agency scientists, the newspaper said that the FDA has routinely disregarded urgent warnings by government experts about potential risk from routine use of CT scans for colon cancer
screening.

The newspaper also said that the FDA meeting is said to be part of the agency's re-evaluation of risks associated with routine radiology.

The Times further reported that an estimated 70 million CT scans are administered annually in the United States -- up from about 3 million three decades ago. Researchers estimate as many as 14,000 people die each year of
cancers resulting from such exposure. (With Inputs from Agencies)