Guidance
Ultrasound: what it is, how it works and the impact of exposure
A description of ultrasound including its uses, impact of exposure, health advice and future research.
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This content was originally produced by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). This content is now owned and managed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Ultrasound has been used in medical practice throughout the world for at least 50 years for diagnostic scanning, ultrasound therapy and the ablation or destruction of unwanted tissues.
There are also a number of industrial applications of ultrasound technology – most notably sonochemistry, emulsification, welding, cleaning and non-destructive testing.
Diagnostic ultrasound, used widely in managing pregnancy, is the application that most people are familiar with.
Updates to this page
Published 1 February 2012