Cancer risk associated with low-dose and low-dose-rate ionizing radiation exposure

Abstract

Whether chronic exposure has an cancer risk per dose different from that of acute exposure is a topic of debate. This paper discusses the effect of dose rate on the strength of relationship between cancer risk and external exposure to low-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) ionizing radiation (such as X-rays and gamma rays), by reviewing important epidemiological studies. The study of atomicbomb survivors, who had acute exposure mainly to low- LET ionizing radiation, has shown that the excess relative risk per gray (ERR/Gy) of leukemia increases in a linear-quadratic manner with an increase of radiation dose. The estimate of ERR/Gy for medium-high dose ranges was shown to be approximately two-fold larger than that for a low-dose range in the atomic-bomb survivor study. The estimate of ERR/Gy associated with acute exposure appears to be larger than those obtained from the studies of low-dose- rate exposure. On the other hand, the risk of solid cancer (or all cancers excluding leukemia) showed a linear dose-response relationship. Regarding the risk modification by dose rates, lower dose-rate exposure to high LET radiation is suspected to be associated with a larger risk. In the case of low-LET exposure, however, the cancer incidence study of residents in high natural background radiation areas of Karunagappally Taluk in Kerala State, India suggests that the ERR per dose for solid cancer after chronic radiation exposure is significantly lower than that associated with acute exposure such as that experienced by atomic-bomb survivors. © The Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society.