Abstract
A model for cancer induction in man exposed to low doses of radiation and based on the analysis of a survey of workers from a nuclear fuel processing plant is examined and compared with that adopted by the ICRP to limit risks to radiation workers. It is shown that claims that ICRP has significantly underestimated the risk apply primarily to those exposed in later life, and arise from assumptions regarding the age dependence of sensitivity to radiation which are questionable. A preliminary attempt is made to test the proposed model using the United Kingdom luminiser population. Deaths from cancers in four tissues believed to be sensitive to radiation induced carcinogenesis are examined and the observed number of deaths in the study population is compared with the number predicted by the model. Taken individually, only one of these sites rejects the model but taken together these four sites, which comprise about half the cancer observed in the luminiser population, provide a conclusive rejection of the model.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Baverstock K. F., Papworth D., Vennart J. Risks of radiation at low dose rates. Lancet. 1981 Feb 21;1(8217):430–433. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)91804-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beebe G. W., Kato H., Land C. E. Studies of the mortality of A-bomb survivors: 6. mortality and radiation dose, 1950--1974. Radiat Res. 1978 Jul;75(1):138–201. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gilbert E. S., Marks S. An analysis of the mortality of workers in a nuclear facility. Radiat Res. 1979 Jul;79(1):122–148. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones T. D. CHORD operators for cell-survival models and insult assessment to active bone marrow. Radiat Res. 1977 Aug;71(2):269–283. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kneale G. W., Mancuso T. F., Stewart A. M. Hanford radiation study III: a cohort study of the cancer risks from radiation to workers at Hanford (1944-77 deaths) by the method of regression models in life-tables. Br J Ind Med. 1981 May;38(2):156–166. doi: 10.1136/oem.38.2.156. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kneale G. W., Mancuso T. F., Stewart A. M. Identification of occupational mortality risks for Hanford workers. Br J Ind Med. 1984 Feb;41(1):6–8. doi: 10.1136/oem.41.1.6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kneale G. W., Mancuso T. F., Stewart A. M. Job related mortality risks of Hanford workers and their relation to cancer effects of measured doses of external radiation. Br J Ind Med. 1984 Feb;41(1):9–14. doi: 10.1136/oem.41.1.9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mancuso T. F., Stewart A., Kneale G. Radiation exposures of Hanford workers dying from cancer and other causes. Health Phys. 1977 Nov;33:369–385. doi: 10.1097/00004032-197711000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith P. G., Doll R. Mortality among patients with ankylosing spondylitis after a single treatment course with x rays. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Feb 13;284(6314):449–460. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6314.449. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]