Progress in low dose health risk research: Novel effects and new concepts in low dose radiobiology

Publication date: April–June 2018Source: Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, Volume 776Author(s): Dietrich Averbeck, Sisko Salomaa, Simon Bouffler, Andrea Ottolenghi, Vere Smyth, Laure SabatierAbstractPeople are more often exposed to low as opposed to high doses of ionising radiation (IR). Knowledge on the health risks associated with exposures to ionising radiation above 100 mGy is quite well established, while lower dose risks are inferred from higher level exposure information (ICRP). The health risk assessments are mainly based on epidemiological data derived from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, medical exposure studies and follow-up studies after nuclear accidents. For the estimation of long-term stochastic radiation health effects (such as cancer) and radiation protection purposes, a linear non-threshold (LNT) model is applied. However, the general validity of the LNT hypothesis for extrapolations from effects of high to low doses (<100 mGy) and low dose-rates (<6 mGy/h) has been questioned as epidemiological studies are statistically limited at low doses and unable to evaluate low dose and low dose-rate health risks (UNSCEAR). Thus, uncertainties on health risks need to be clarified with the help of mechanistic studies.The European Network of Excellence DoReMi (2010–2016) was designed to address some of the existing uncertainties and to identify research lines that are likely to be most informative for low dose risk assessmen...
Source: Mutation Research Reviews in Mutation Research - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research