Re: Radiation Effects

[GOODEN@VMS.OCOM.OKSTATE.EDU]

RESPONSE TO ROBERT J. GUNTER 

	I would suggest that you look at a Commentary by Daniel Billings 
that appeared in Radiation Research 124, 242-245 (1990), entitled 
"Spontaneous DNA Damage and Its Significance for the Negligible Dose 
Controversy in Radiation Protection."  D. Billings estimates 70 million DNA 
damaging events per cell per year in mammals including humans.  He says the 
lifetime load of spontaneous DNA damage events per cell is approximately 5 
billion for an average life span of 75 years for humans.  It is suggested 
in the Commentary that 0.2 mSv (20 mrem) per year would add only about two 
additional induced DNA damaging events per cell per year.  

David S. Gooden, Ph.D., J.D. 
Phone:	(918) 494-1444 
FAX:	(918) 494-1452 
email:	GOODEN@VMS.OCOM.OKSTATE.EDU