[ RadSafe ] xkcd: Relative Radiation Dose chart

Mon Mar 21 17:41:14 CDT 2011

The sole reference for the HPS position statement (which is likely the
basis for the other statements) is NCRP 126.

National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Uncertainties
in fatal cancer risk estimates used in radiation protection. Bethesda,
MD: NCRP; NCRP Report No. 126; 1997.

I don't have a copy of NCRP 126, they dance around the 100 mSv value in
NCRP 136
e.g. 
Hoel and Li (1998) recently modeled the dose-response relationship
for various cancer incidence and mortality endpoints for the
atomic-bomb survivor data, comparing linear and dose-threshold
curves. For total solid tumors they found that the fit of the linear
curve and curves with a threshold of 100 mSv fit about equally well
for the incidence data but the linear curve provided a somewhat
better fit for the mortality data. Thresholds above about 100 mSv
fit more poorly than a linear curve. A similar conclusion was reached
by Kellerer and Nekolla (1997), based on evaluation of the influence
of dose-dependent errors in the neutron dosimetry at Hiroshima.

The most recent analyses of the Japanese atomic-bomb data indicate that
the data for solid
tumors are highly compatible with nonthreshold linearity of the
dose-response curve in the aggregate and for major subgroups of
cancer types (Pierce et al., 1996; Thompson et al., 1994). On the
other hand, Hoel and Li (1998) recently showed that the data for
several cancer endpoints could be fit about equally well with a dose
response
model having a dose threshold at around 50 to 100 mSv.
However, they did not evaluate the fit of a linear-quadratic model
versus a threshold model.

---
Cary Renquist
cary.renquist at ezag.com

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Sandra Matzkin
Sent: Monday, 21 March 2011 13:53
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] xkcd: Relative Radiation Dose chart

Yes, I am aware that this 100 mSv value is considered to be a 
threshold above which the probability of cancer increases linearly 
with dose. I believe it is based on epidemiological studies carried 
out on some populations (Hiroshima and Mayak among them). However, I 
cannot find out how these studies were conducted or which other 
radiological exposed populations were analyzed.

It would be interesting to see both LNT and non-LNT supporters' take on
this.

Sandra

At 05:28 PM 3/21/2011, you wrote:
>Looking at his references,
>http://j.mp/ek8QYy
>
>I see the following statement at the MIT site:
>    The 100 millisievert level is roughly the point at which health
>effects from radiation
>    become more likely. Below this it is statistically difficult to
>connect radiation
>    dose to cancer rates, but above this the relationship starts to
>become apparent.
>
>And at the NRC tritium page:
>    Although high doses and high dose rates may cause cancer in humans
>and genetic abnormalities
>    in an embryo or fetus, public health data have not established the
>occurrence of these health
>    risks following exposure to low doses and low dose rates -  below
>about 10,000 millirem (mrem).
>
>
>---
>Cary Renquist
>cary.renquist at ezag.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Sandra
Matzkin
>Sent: Monday, 21 March 2011 11:38
>To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing
List
>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] xkcd: Relative Radiation Dose chart
>
>About the assertion "Lowest one-year dose clearly linked to increased
>cancer risk" (100 mSv), can anyone comment or provide references on
>how this link was established?
>
>Regards
>
>Sandra Matzkin
>Radiation Transport
>INVAP SE
>Bariloche
>Argentina
>
>
>At 02:30 PM 3/21/2011, Yoss, Robert wrote:
> >For a chuckle note the last lines at the bottom.
> >
> >Rob Yoss
> >FMLH/MCW
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
> >[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Cary
Renquist
> >Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 11:45 AM
> >To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics)
MailingList
> >Subject: [ RadSafe ] xkcd: Relative Radiation Dose chart
> >
> >Surprised that nobody has pointed this out yet...
> >
> >http://j.mp/fklO6J
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Best regards,
> >Cary
> >
> >---
> >Cary Renquist
> >crenquist at isotopeproducts.com or cary.renquist at ezag.com
> >
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