INWORKS and Hiroshima/Nagasaki Leukaemia Results

Abstract

The Hiroshima/Nagasaki (H/N) studies by the Radiation Effect Research Foundation have not shown increased leukaemia for acute doses below 200 milli-gray (mGy). By contrast the INWORKS study of leukaemia in workers stated: “This study provides strong evidence of positive associations between protracted low-dose radiation exposure and leukemia”. The INWORKS study also claimed increased leukaemia, not including Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, at cumulative occupational doses of less than 100 mGy. This is contrary to the expectation that the H/N studies would show more severe effects than the worker study because the doses were acute instead of chronic and because the H/N studies included children who had higher rates of radiation induced leukaemia than adults. This paper shows that the INWORKS leukaemia study is consistent with the H/N studies in showing no increase in leukaemia in the low-dose range. In addition, any increase in leukaemia is confined to Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, possibly from high radiation dose-rates or chemicals.