[ RadSafe ] Limits of radiation epidemiology studies

[Ted Rockwell]

Abel's formula of course presumes that the LNT applies.  In fact, there are
epidemiological studies where the LNT predicts cancer deaths in greater
number than the actual total of cancer deaths from all causes.  (Radiation
is seldom a major cause of death, with so many other carcinogenic agents
about.)  There are many epidemiological studies where the upturn, from
harmful to beneficial, is clearly demonstrated to several standard
deviations.

And there are exquisite experiments (by Liu is China, Mitchel in Canada,
Masse in France, Feinendegen in Germany, and several scientists in Japan)
showing at each step how this works.  Hormesis is a basic principle in
biology; it would be anomalous if radiation followed a different law.

Ted Rockwell

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl]On
Behalf Of A Karam
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 4:10 PM
To: RADSAFE
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Limits of radiation epidemiology studies


Abel Gonzalez had a very nice graphic in one of his recent lectures (I
think it was the Sievert Lecture, but it may have been the Taylor).  In
this, he showed the relationship between added dose and the size of the
study population needed to show an effect, using our current
epidemiological tools.  It clearly shows that, as dose drops, the study
population must increase to compensate.  At very low doses, the study
population is larger than the current population of the earth, putting
some constraints on what epidemiology can show us.

Abel's Sievert presentation can be found at this URL:

 http://www.irpa11.com (click on "Plenary Sessions" to call up link to
the presentation graphics)

Andy
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