Estimation of global population-weighted annual eye lens dose from cosmic ray exposure

This study presents the application of an analytical model, PARMA, to estimate the population-weighted annual absorbed dose to the lens of the eye due to cosmic rays. Cosmic ray flux data incorporating geographical altitude, together with the global population data from 2020, were used to estimate the global population-weighted annual eye lens dose. The resulting value was 0.267 mGy, ~11% lower than the annual effective dose due to cosmic rays evaluated in the latest UNSCEAR reports. This population-weighted estimate provides a more accurate assessment of background eye lens dose levels and facilitates comparison among the public, aircrew, and astronauts. This estimate also provides a refined baseline for epidemiological studies of lens cataracts.