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Identifying the health risks from very low-dose sparsely ionizing radiation

N A Dreyer, E Friedlander

American Journal of Public Health

|June 1, 1982

Summary

Low-dose radiation exposure poses health risks, with leukemia consistently observed at doses of 30 rad or more. Thyroid cancer and salivary gland tumors are also linked to low-linear energy transfer radiation exposure.

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Area of Science:

Radiation biology
Epidemiology
Public health

Background:

The health risks associated with low-dose, low-linear energy transfer (low-LET) radiation remain a subject of ongoing scientific debate.
Quantitative risk assessments are hampered by uncertainties in dosimetry for atomic bomb survivor data and in mathematical models for high-to-low dose extrapolation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the epidemiologic literature and summarize diseases consistently associated with low-LET radiation exposure (less than 1000 rad).
To identify specific health risks at cumulative organ doses of 50 rad or less.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of the epidemiologic literature.
Analysis of diseases associated with low-LET radiation in at least two independent studies.
Correlation of disease incidence with mean cumulative organ dose.

Main Results:

At organ doses less than or equal to 50 rad, consistent associations were found for thyroid cancer, salivary gland tumors, and leukemia.
Thyroid cancer and salivary gland tumors were linked to x-ray epilation for tinea capitis, a now-discontinued therapy.
Leukemia was repeatedly observed at cumulative doses of 30 rad or greater of low-LET radiation.

Conclusions:

Low-dose low-LET radiation exposure is associated with specific health risks, notably leukemia at doses of 30 rad or higher.
While some radiation-associated cancers (thyroid, salivary gland) are linked to historical treatments, leukemia risk is a concern at lower cumulative doses.

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