[Review of Cohort Studies Among Radiologists, Radiological Technologists, and Nuclear Workers]

A number of epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the health effects of low-dose radiation. The author reviewed epidemiological studies among radiologists, radiological technologists, and nuclear workers. Because the results of many epidemiological studies on these subjects have been published, and many studies have measured radiation doses, there is little uncertainty. In the studies among radiologists and radiological technologists, high risks for leukemia, skin cancer, and breast cancer were found in populations that began work before around 1950, but not seen such a tendency for those starting work recent years. The results of the studies among nuclear workers were inconsistent with some reporting that a risk was seen, while others reported no risk. The reason for this may be due to the different analysis methods among the studies.