The question of a 'New Era in the Low Dose Radiation Epidemiology' approach

Abstract

The historical and recent years data on cancer and/or leukemia rate increasing after exposure of people in low dose (up to 100 mGy) radiation with a low LET, attributiveness of effects and the possibility of their experimental confirmation were considered. Previously, information about the carcinogenic effects of low doses was not clearly interpreted due to the presence of uncertainty, biases and confounders. The biological mechanism was also absent. In the last 5-7 years the situation has changed dramatically: more significant data were obtained: irradiation at computed tomography in dentistry, for residents of a high natural background radiation, and others. Simultaneously it was obtained radiobio-logical data on increased DNA double strand breaks level after exposure to doses from few milligrays and it can be considered as a possible molecular mechanism of these effects. As a result, was declared 'New Era in the Low Dose Radiation Epidemiology' (Kitahara С M., et al., 2015), which can lead to costs in terms of tightening of radiation risks and to fear of medical exposure. The conducted in the review analysis of recent epidemiological and radiobiological evidence suggests, however, that there is no unambiguous evidence of attributed to radiation carcinogenic effects, identified during the 'New Epidemiology of Low Doses', and there is no a proven molecular mechanism that could provide biological plausibility of such effects.

Keywords

• cancer genesis
• diagnostic irradiation
• double stranded DNA
• low dose radiation