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High Natural Background Radiation Areas: A Literature Review that Reveals Systematic Adaptive Response but
Juliette Restier-Verlet1, Clément Devic2, Camelia Bellemou1
1U1296 Unit (Radiation: Defense, Health and Environment), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Lyon, France.
Dose-Response : a Publication of International Hormesis Society
|September 4, 2025
Summary
People living in high natural background radiation areas (HBRAs) show no adverse health effects despite continuous low-dose irradiation. Their cells exhibit an adaptive response to higher radiation doses, explained by a protein shuttling mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiation Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Natural background radiation is a global health consideration.
- Telluric radiation levels vary significantly across Earth's regions.
- High natural background radiation areas (HBRAs) present unique exposure scenarios.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the health impacts of continuous low-dose irradiation in HBRAs.
- To analyze data from major HBRAs globally.
- To understand cellular responses to chronic and acute radiation exposure.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 98 studies on HBRAs (1973-2023).
- Comparison of radiation doses in HBRA hotspots versus inhabitants' average exposure.
- Analysis of cellular endpoints (DNA breaks, cancer, aging) in HBRA and non-HBRA populations.
- Assessment of ex vivo lymphocyte responses to high-dose irradiation.
Main Results:
- HBRA inhabitants receive lower doses than hotspot assessments (e.g., 80 mSv/year vs. 260 mSv/year in Ramsar).
- No significant differences in DNA breaks, cancer incidence, or aging were found between HBRA and non-HBRA groups.
- Ex vivo lymphocytes from HBRA inhabitants consistently showed adaptive responses to high-dose radiation (0.25-4 Gy).
Conclusions:
- Continuous low-dose radiation exposure in HBRAs does not lead to observable adverse health effects.
- HBRA populations exhibit a protective adaptive response to higher radiation doses.
- Radiation-induced ATM protein nucleoshuttling offers a mechanistic explanation for these observations.
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