Breast cancer incidence among atomic bomb survivors, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1950--1969. [Neutrons, gamma radiation]

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7285168

McGregor, D H ^[1]; Land, C E; Choi, K; Tokuoka, S; Liu, P I; Wakabayashi, T; Beebe, G W

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1. Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima

For the period 1950-69, 231 cases of breast cancer were identified among 63,275 female atomic bomb survivors and nonexposed controls; 187 were among survivors for whom dose estimates were available. The estimated absolute risk per rad was 1.9 excess cases per 10/sup 6/ person-years at risk over this period for women who were 10 years old or older at the time of bombing (ATB), substantially less than published estimates largely based on X-ray and fluoroscopy data from smaller samples of younger North American women. The Hiroshima and Nagasaki dose-response curves were similar, which suggested approximate equivalence of neutron and gamma radiations in their carcinogenic effect on breast tissue, and were consistent with a linear model. An identifiable radiation effect was evident before 1955. For women of comparable ages ATB, the time from 1945 to diagnosis did not vary by dose, nor was there evidence that radiation caused breast cancer to develop in these women at earlier ages than usual. No breast cancers were found up to 1969 among atomic bomb survivors under age 10 ATB, nor were any substantial numbers observed until 1960 in those 10-19 years old ATB. By 1965-69, however, the cohort 10-19 years old ATB exposed to high or medium doses was experiencing a much greater excess of breast cancer than was observed in women 35 years old or older ATB who were exposed to any dose level. This suggests that the breast tissues of adolescent females may be more sensitive than those of older women to the effects of ionizing radiation. Finally, for each age-ATB interval (10-19, 20-34, 35-49, and 50+ yr), women exposed to 100+ rads had, by 1969, already approximated or exceeded their lifetime expectations (after 1950) of breast cancer as calculated from Japanese cancer registry data.

• OSTI ID: 7285168
• Journal Information: J. Natl. Cancer Inst.; (United States), Vol. 59:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
DATA COMPILATION
MAMMARY GLANDS
NEOPLASMS
RADIOINDUCTION
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GAMMA RADIATION
HIROSHIMA
NAGASAKI
NEUTRONS
ASIA
BARYONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GLANDS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
JAPAN
NUCLEONS
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man