Effect of changes in dosimetry on cancer mortality risk estimates in the atomic bomb survivors

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3577117· OSTI ID:7138806

Preston, D L; Pierce, D A

In the spring of 1986 the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) received a new atomic bomb dosimetry system. This report presents the comparisons of leukemia and nonleukemia cancer mortality risk estimates under the old and new dosimetries. In terms of total kerma (essentially whole-body gamma plus neutron exposure), risk estimates for both classes of cancer are 75-85% higher with the new dosimetry. This and other summary comparisons allow for possible nonlinearity at high estimated doses. Changes are also considered in relation to organ doses and assumptions about the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons. Without regard to RBE, the risk estimates for total organ dose are essentially unchanged by the dosimetry revision. However, with increasing assumed values of RBE, the estimated low-LET risk decreases much less rapidly under the new dosimetry, due to the smaller neutron component. Thus at an assumed constant RBE of 10, for example, the effect of the dosimetry revision is to increase organ dose risk estimates, relative to those based on the old dosimetry, by 30% for nonleukemia and 80% for leukemia. At an RBE of 20 these increases are 72 and 136%, respectively. A number of other issues are discussed. The city difference in dose is no longer statistically significant, even at an RBE of one. Estimation of RBE is even less feasible with new dosimetry. There is substantial question of the linearity in dose response, in the sense of a leveling off at higher doses. Finally, some indication is given of how risks estimated from this dosimetry and the current data may compare to widely used estimates based largely on the RERF data with the previous dosimetry.

• Research Organization: Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima (Japan)
• OSTI ID: 7138806
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 114:3; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
ASIA
BARYONS
DISEASES
DOSES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HEMIC DISEASES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
IRRADIATION
JAPAN
KERMA
LET
LEUKEMIA
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOINDUCTION
RBE
RISK ASSESSMENT
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION