In the light of the present interest in the dangers of radiation, which is briefly reviewed, an attempt has been made to measure the radiation absorbed by anaesthetists in their routine practice. If one accepts the method of measurement as fairly accurate, and also accepts the relative use of X-rays in conjunction with anaesthesia in our hospital as typical, then it seems safe to assume that anaesthetists have no cause for alarm, and need take no special precautions at present. The results are well ithin present-day permissible levels.