Identifying the health risks from very low-dose sparsely ionizing radiation
The health risks from low-dose sparsely ionizing (low-LET) radiation have been the subject of continued debate. At present, quantitative estimates of risk are extremely uncertain due to the controversy surrounding both the dosimetry for A-bomb survivor data and the choice of mathematical models for extrapolating risk from high to low doses. Nevertheless, much can be learned about the nature of the health risks by reviewing the epidemiologic literature. We present a summary of diseases which have been associated with low-LET radiation (<1000 rad) in at least two independent studies, according to the mean cumulative organ dose at which the disease was observed. At organ doses of less than or equal to50 rad, the only diseases that have been reported consistently are thyroid cancer, salivary gland tumors, and leukemia. The first two diseases were observed in association with x-ray epilation of the scalp for tinea capitis, a therapy which is no longer employed. On the other hand, leukemia has been observed repeatedly to occur at cumulative doses of greater than or equal to30 rad low-LET radiation.
- Research Organization:
- Epidemiology Resources, Inc., Chestnut, MA
- OSTI ID:
- 6418424
- Journal Information:
- Am. J. Public Health Nation's Health; (United States), Vol. 72:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CARCINOGENESIS
RISK ASSESSMENT
LEUKEMIA
EPIDEMIOLOGY
RADIOINDUCTION
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
RADIATION HAZARDS
NEOPLASMS
SALIVARY GLANDS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
THYROID
LET
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
X RADIATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENERGY TRANSFER
GLANDS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEMIC DISEASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man