Recent reassessments of radiation risk estimates: Implications for radiation protection

1990 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger H. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Risk Estimates

Коэффициент эффективности (DDREF) дозы и мощноcти доз: ненужные, спорные и противоречивые вопросы

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-27
Author(s):  
Julio Abel ◽  
Julio Abel
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Dose Rate ◽  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Mathematical Formulation ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Radiation Risks ◽  
Risk Estimates

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to review the genesis and evolution of the concept termed dose and dose rate effectiveness factor or DDREF, to expose critiques on the concept and to suggest some curse of action on its use. Material and methods: Mainly using the UNSCEAR reporting and ICRP recommendations as the main reference material, the paper describes the evolution (since the 70’s) of the conundrum of inferring radiation risk at low dose and dose-rate. People are usually exposed to radiation at much lower doses and dose rates than those for which quantitative evaluations of incidence of radiation effects are available – a situation that tempted experts to search for a factor relating the epidemiological attribution of effects at high doses and dose-rates with the subjective inference of risk at low doses and dose-rates. The formal introduction and mathematical formulation of the concept by UNSCEAR and ICRP (in the 90’s), is recalled. It is then underlined that the latest UNSCEAR radiation risk estimates did not use a DDREF concept, making it de facto unneeded for purposes of radiation risk attribution. The paper also summarizes the continuous use of the concept for radiation protection purposes and related concerns as well as some current public misunderstandings and apprehension on the DDREF (particularly the aftermath of the Fukushima Dai’ichi NPP accident). It finally discusses epistemological weaknesses of the concept itself. Results: It seems that the DDREF has become superseded by scientific developments and its use has turned out to be unneeded for the purposes of radiation risk estimates. The concept also appears to be arguable for radiation protection purposes, visibly controversial and epistemologically questionable Conclusions: It is suggested that: (i) the use of the DDREF can be definitely abandoned for radiation risk estimates; (ii) while recognizing that radiation protection has different purposes than radiation risk estimation, the discontinuation of using a DDREF for radiation protection might also be considered; (iii) for radiation exposure situations for which there are available epidemiological information that can be scientifically tested (namely which is confirmable and verifiable and therefore falsifiable), radiation risks should continue to be attributed in terms of frequentistic probabilities; and, (iv) for radiation exposure situations for which direct scientific evidence of effects is unavailable or unfeasible to obtain, radiation risks may need to be inferred on the basis of indirect evidence, scientific reasoning and professional judgment aimed at estimating their plausibility in terms of subjective probabilities.

Academy panel raises radiation risk estimates

Science ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 247 (4947) ◽  
pp. 1166-1167
Author(s):  
H. Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Risk Estimates

scholarly journals POPULATION AWARENESS STUDY AND PREPAREDNESS FOR ACTION IN RADIATION ACCIDENT IN BULGARIA

2019 ◽  
pp. 555-562
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Nuclear Physics ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Radiation Accident ◽  
Biological Protection ◽  
Living Nature ◽  
Meteorological Elements

Inquiry included issues covering the overall vision of radiative background monitoring systems, population disclosure, action by competent authorities and bodies and their interaction. Together with these radiation protection basics, the respondents also expressed their opinion on the main factors that could lead to a radiation accident and the way the radioactive particles, isotopes and rays are disseminated in terms of meteorological elements that influence them. The poll was conducted in February and March 2017 so that the information received is up to date. The resulting and aggregated information should not be considered as a constant because the situation changes dynamically, both in terms of the political situation in the region and the intentions of our neighbors regarding the sites that represent both the radiation risk and the meteorological elements that affect any radioactive contamination. The study was conducted in three groups of respondents. The first group consisted of radiation protection and nuclear physics specialists, who have a deeper understanding of the problems and their opinion has a greater weight. The circle of respondents was not large - 38 people responded to the survey. The second group of people included randomly selected individuals in different age groups and educational qualifications from all over the country randomly selected. In this category, the respondents answered 196 people of different age, gender and education I also made a study among students in the first course at Vasil Levski National Academy of Medicine and the results were also processed and analyzed independently. It was attended by 158 trainees who have undergone initial training in nuclear, chemical and biological protection, and have some basic knowledge of nuclear accidents and their actions. After the survey was completed, the results obtained were processed by me and summarized in a tabular form attached to the report. On the basis of the results obtained and the summarized data, conclusions are drawn regarding the state of the actions in case of a radiation accident and recommendations for improvement of the public disclosure and the correct and timely actions of the responsible state bodies in order to protect the population and minimize the negative consequences for the living and non-living nature.

Radiation Doses and Risks in Breast Screening

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Edward Hendrick
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Detection ◽  
Breast Imaging ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Digital Breast Tomosynthesis ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Cancer Risks ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Molecular Breast Imaging ◽  
Risk Estimates ◽  
Efficient Detection

Abstract This article describes radiation doses and cancer risks of digital breast imaging technologies used for breast cancer detection. These include digital mammography (DM), digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and newer technologies such as contrast-enhanced digital or spectral mammography (CEM), whole-breast computed tomography, breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI), molecular breast imaging (MBI), and positron emission mammography (PEM). This article describes the basis for radiation risk estimates, compares radiation doses and risks, and provides benefit-to-radiation-risk ratios for different breast imaging modalities that use ionizing radiation. Current x-ray–based screening modalities such as DM and DBT have small to negligible risks of causing radiation-induced cancers in women of normal screening age. Possible new screening modalities such as CEM have similar small cancer risks. Potential screening modalities that involve radionuclide injection such as BSGI, MBI, and PEM have significantly higher cancer risks unless efficient detection systems and reduced administered doses are used. Benefit-to-radiation-risk estimates are highly favorable for screening with DM and other modalities having comparable (or higher) cancer detection rates and comparably low radiation doses.

Industry Workers of Russia and Great Britain

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 74-86
Author(s):  
I. Kuznetsova ◽  
M. Gillies
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
Dose Range ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Dose Effect ◽  
Quadratic Model ◽  
Red Bone Marrow ◽  
Risk Estimates ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Radiation Workers

Purpose: The estimation of the radiation risk of leukemia incidence and mortality for occupational exposure. Material and methods: The study was conducted in the pooled cohort comprised 45,817 workers from the two enterprises; 23,443 radiation workers first employed in 1947–2002 from the Sellafield plant (Great Britain) and 22,774 workers from the Mayak PA (Russia) first employed at the main plants in 1948–1982. The period of follow-up was terminated at the end of 2008 for Mayak workers who were Ozyorsk city residents, and at the end of 2005 for Sellafield workers and Mayak workers who had migrated from Ozyorsk. Results: Comparable radiation risk estimates of leukemia incidence and mortality were found among Mayak PA and Sellafield workers as for the whole dose range and separate dose intervals. Averaged by attained age estimate of excess relative risk per 1 Gy of external gamma-dose was 3.0 (95 % CI: 1.3–6.3) under the assumption of the linear dose–effect model. The quadratic model with attained age modification showed the best quality of fit. Risk estimates were statistically significant in the dose range 0.15–1.5 Gy. There was no evidence of any relationship between leukemia risks and accumulated red bone marrow dose of internal alpha-exposure due to incorporated Pu-239. Conclusion: Preliminary analysis of the pooled cohort data has demonstrated the feasibility and efficiency of a research project looking at leukemia risks in a joint cohort of Mayak and Sellafield workers. The current study provides further evidence about the already well established link between external-gamma exposure and leukemia risk. However, it fails to provide any firm further evidence about the absence or presence of relationship between plutonium exposure and leukemia risk.

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