AW: [ RadSafe ] Re: Lung cancer reduction

[Rainer.Facius at dlr.de]

"There is no evidence that increased exposures to radiation have done so [reduced incidence of lung cancer]."

Dear John:

Of course, whether or not your above statement holds, depends somewhat on what you consider "evidence". Regarding lung cancer, even the ICRP concedes that the [LNT] atomic bomb survivor risk estimates do NOT fit into the picture outlined by epidemiological data from truly chronic low dose rate exposures: 

"For cancers at some sites there is reasonable compatibility between the data from LSS and those from others sources. However it is recognised by the Commission that for a number of sites, e.g., lung, there are significant differences."

quoted from: 2005 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION. Draft for consultation. §(104) p. 30 and once more in annex A, (A13) p. 67)

I attach a PDF file with 6 diagrams showing such significant differences in data from some of such 'opposing' studies.(If the attachment does not pass the moderator, I will provide it upon request)

Unless you can provide reasons for ignoring these findings, my interpretation of these data falsifies your above statement.

Kind regards, Rainer

Sources for the diagrams in the attachment:

Bogen K T.
Mechanistic model predicts a U-shaped relation of radon exposure to lung cancer risk reflected in combined occupational and US residential data. 
Human and Experimental Toxicology 17(1998)691-696

Fleck C M, Schöllnberger H, Kottbauer M M, Dockal T, Prüfert U
Modeling radioprotective mechanisms in the dose effect relation at low doses and low 
dose rates of ionizing radiation.
Mathematical Biosciences 155(1999)13-44
(Fleck et al. and also Bogen successfully model different sophisticated cellular models (sophisticated in contrast to the petty LNT postulate) to own data or to data from Cohen B L, Test of the linear-no threshold theory of radiation carcinogenesis for inhaled radon decay products. Health Physics 68#2(1995)157-174)

Cardis E, Gilbert E S, Carpenter L, Howe G, Kato I, Armstrong B K, Beral V, Cowper G, Douglas A, Fix J, Fry S A, Kaldor J, Lavé C, Salmon L, Smith P G, Voelz G L, Wiggs L D.
Effects of low doses and dose rates of external ionizing radiation: Cancer mortality among nuclear industry workers in three countries.
Radiation Research 142(1995)117-132

Rossi H H, Zaider M
Radiogenic lung cancer: the effects of low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation.
Radiation and Environmental Biophysics 36(1997)85-88

Tokarskaya Z B, Okladnikova N D, Belyaeva T D, Drozhko E G.
Multifactorial analysis of lung cancer dose-response relationships for workers at the Mayak nuclear enterprise.
Health Physics 73#6(1997)899-905 


Dr. Rainer Facius
German Aerospace Center
Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Linder Hoehe
51147 Koeln
GERMANY
Voice: +49 2203 601 3147 or 3150
FAX:   +49 2203 61970

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] Im Auftrag von John Jacobus
Gesendet: Sonntag, 25. Juni 2006 19:31
An: radsafe
Betreff: [ RadSafe ] Re: Lung cancer reduction

Dr. Luan,
If you have serious concerns about the high incidents of lung cancers, I would think that you would foster the idea the people should stop smoking.  Studies have shown the individual who stop smoking have reduced incidents in lung cancer.  There is no evidence that increased exposures to radiation have done so.  

Also, as WE discussed several years ago, your statements on reduction of cancers in Taiwanese apartment dwellers was at best an incompete report. 
At worst, badly flawed.  There has been no further study of these people, as opposed to the Atomic Bomb survivors.  In your work was of limited scope.  

Maybe this is why many professional radiation scientist consider this to be a "wild story."