[ RadSafe ] "low dose radiation slows down cardiovascular disease"

[Jerry Cohen]

Open letter to Researchers at the Chalk River Laboratories.

Don't you people realize that radiation is bad, bad, bad for everyone at all 
dose levels greater than zero!! If you persist in this work, you might endanger 
the enormous levels of research funding for low-dose biological effects, and 
will surely find yourselves on the ICRP &  NCRP's enemies list.

Consider yourselves warned ;-)      Jerry Cohen



________________________________
From: "Franta, Jaroslav" <frantaj at aecl.ca>
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Sent: Thu, February 17, 2011 6:19:50 AM
Subject: [ RadSafe ] "low dose radiation slows down cardiovascular disease"

UNRESTRICTED | ILLIMITÉ

Interesting research suggesting radiation hormesis.....


Sent: February 17, 2011 8:34 AM
Subject: [cdn-nucl-l] Innovative radiobiology at Chalk River

FYI, this article was recently prepared by our biological research group at 
Chalk River Laboratories.  It’s a good example of the cutting-edge R&D that 
takes place here, with benefits for all Canadians.
Jeremy Whitlock
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Hearts of Mice and Men

The Biological Research Facility (BRF) at Chalk River Laboratories is a globally 
unique facility. Within the BRF, animal (rodent) and animal tissue-based 
research is undertaken to study the biological effects of radiation.

One project is a major, ongoing collaborative study that began in 2006 and is 
supported by the research program of the Commission of the European Union. AECL 
is one of many partners in this project, which includes 16 European universities 
and laboratories, McMaster University, Health Canada and the Ottawa Heart 
Institute.

One of the main objectives of our research is to determine the effects of low 
dose, gamma-radiation on the development and progression of cardiovascular 
disease (atherosclerosis) in mice. The mice used for heart research are 
genetically modified so that they will develop heart disease. Understanding what 
is happening in mice will increase our understanding of the consequences of 
exposure to low radiation doses in humans - such as doses commonly employed in 
diagnostic radiography and those incurred by radiation workers.

Atherosclerosis is a disease that is caused by the deposition of “fatty plaques” 
within arteries, including those in and around the heart. These plaques cause 
decreased blood flow to organs in the body, and angina in the heart. Also, they 
may block arteries causing heart attacks and strokes.

Mice were exposed either at early stages of the disease or at late stages of the 
disease to low doses of radiation. Different dose rates were used to reproduce 
both acute (short) and chronic (prolonged) irradiations.

At three months or six months post-exposure, the hearts and aortas of the mice 
were examined to determine the severity of the atherosclerotic lesions. Blood 
samples were also collected and tested for cholesterol levels. The 
atherosclerotic lesions were analyzed for size, severity and number.

While there were some differences between the effects produced by low and high 
dose rate exposures, and by exposures given at early and late stages of the 
disease, the effects seen were found to be generally protective, rather than 
damaging. Low doses of gamma-radiation resulted in fewer, smaller and less 
severe plaques. 


When higher doses of radiation were used these apparently beneficial effects 
disappeared and it is generally recognised that high radiation doses harm the 
heart and its arteries. How low dose radiation slows down cardiovascular disease 
is not yet clear, but it’s likely to be related to its anti-inflammatory 
effects.

An interesting consequence of this work is that the beneficial effects of low 
dose radiation on arteries, if confirmed in humans (and there is some evidence 
to suggest this may be so), may more than counter any shortened life expectancy 
from a small increased risk of cancer.

Nick Priest
Manager, Radiation Protection Research & Instrumentation        

Michelle Bugden
BRF Technologist       




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