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The late biological effects of ionizing radiation

Abstract

Full text: The principal objective of the symposium was to review the current status of understanding of the late biological effects of ionizing radiation from external and internal sources. A second objective was to critically evaluate information obtained from epidemiological studies of human population groups as well as from animal experimentation in order to provide a solid scientific basis upon which problems of current concern, such as radiation protection standards and risk-benefit analysis, could be deliberated. Eighty-one papers were presented in 10 sessions which covered epidemiological studies of late effects in human populations exposed to internal and/or external ionizing radiation; quantitative and qualitative data from animal experimentation of late effects; methodological problems and modern approaches; factors influencing susceptibility or expression of late radiation injury; comparative evaluation of late effects induced by radiation and other environmental pollutants, and problems of risk assessment. In addition, there were two evening sessions for free discussion of problems of interpreting animal data, and of the epidemiological studies of occupationally exposed populations. Reports on atomic bomb survivors showed that these epidemiological studies are providing dependable data, such as dose-related excess infant mortality. The reports also revealed the need for consensus in the method employed in the  More>>
Publication Date:
Jun 15, 1978
Product Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: IAEA Bulletin; Journal Volume: 20; Journal Issue: 3; Conference: International symposium on the late biological effects of ionizing radiation, Vienna (Austria), 13-17 Mar 1978
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS AND BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; BIOLOGICAL STRESS; BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY; CARCINOGENESIS; OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY; RADIATION DOSES; RADIOSENSITIVITY; RISK ASSESSMENT
OSTI ID:
21003607
Country of Origin:
IAEA
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: ISSN 0020-6067; IAEBAB; TRN: XA0702989027730
Availability:
Available on-line: http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Magazines/Bulletin/Bull203/20305185758.pdf;INIS
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
page(s) 57-58
Announcement Date:
Apr 21, 2008

Citation Formats

None. The late biological effects of ionizing radiation. IAEA: N. p., 1978. Web.
None. The late biological effects of ionizing radiation. IAEA.
None. 1978. "The late biological effects of ionizing radiation." IAEA.
@misc{etde_21003607,
title = {The late biological effects of ionizing radiation}
author = {None}
abstractNote = {Full text: The principal objective of the symposium was to review the current status of understanding of the late biological effects of ionizing radiation from external and internal sources. A second objective was to critically evaluate information obtained from epidemiological studies of human population groups as well as from animal experimentation in order to provide a solid scientific basis upon which problems of current concern, such as radiation protection standards and risk-benefit analysis, could be deliberated. Eighty-one papers were presented in 10 sessions which covered epidemiological studies of late effects in human populations exposed to internal and/or external ionizing radiation; quantitative and qualitative data from animal experimentation of late effects; methodological problems and modern approaches; factors influencing susceptibility or expression of late radiation injury; comparative evaluation of late effects induced by radiation and other environmental pollutants, and problems of risk assessment. In addition, there were two evening sessions for free discussion of problems of interpreting animal data, and of the epidemiological studies of occupationally exposed populations. Reports on atomic bomb survivors showed that these epidemiological studies are providing dependable data, such as dose-related excess infant mortality. The reports also revealed the need for consensus in the method employed in the interpretation of data. That was also the case with studies on occupationally exposed populations at Hanford plant, where disparate results were presented on radiation-induced neoplasia among radiation workers. These data are, however, considered not so significant in relative terms when compared to risks involved in other industries. It was recommended that national registry systems for the dosimetry and medical records of radiation workers be established and co-ordinated internationally in order to facilitate reliable epidemiological surveillance. As far as medical exposure is concerned, current practices involving radiation exposure seems well justified in most of the cases, except some where radiation is used for diagnostic purposes of benign disorders. Cytological, histological and physiological studies were reported on experimental animals, apart from cancer induction, on the effect of neonatal exposure and effects on central nervous system. These provided basic data by which human data can be interpreted and analysed. Several novel approaches were reported for prediction of late effects, e.g. DNA repair capability, and some cytogenetic and physiological parameters which are expected to be of practical merit in future. The dose-effect relationship, by which human risk estimates at low doses are derived by extrapolation, was another topic of lively discussion. Several new models based on theoretical analysis or experimental data were proposed and compared with the available human and animal data. Although the validity of these awaits further research, some shed a new light on the problems of extrapolation. Radiation effects in practice are complicated by other environmental factor;, such chemical pollutants which may be additional causal agents. The importance of theoretical approach for prediction of such combined effects was stressed. Of interest was the combined effect of smoking and radon-222 in lung cancer induction. Lung cancer incidence was significantly elevated by combination of the two in the rat, which was also substantiated by the observation in Hiroshima-Nagasaki study where incidence of lung cancer in the smoking population was shown to be higher than the non-smoking population, suggesting synergistic effects of radiation and smoking. This meeting brought together people with a remarkably wide range of interests including the practicalities of radiological protection, epidemiology, medical practices and theoretical and experimental radiobiology. It was stressed that research co-ordination and exchange of information on this subject area should further be encouraged by concerted international efforts. (author)}
journal = []
issue = {3}
volume = {20}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1978}
month = {Jun}
}