Re: Genetic effects of radiation on humans

["J. J. Rozental" <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>]

About this subject, please GO TO
http://www.rerf.or.jp/eigo/radefx/genetics/geneefx.htm
It is a very interesting Japan  site on Radiation effects

J. J. Rozental
Consultant, Radiation Safety and Regulation
for Developing Countries


At 08:43 AM 7/14/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Wade:
>     The possible relevance of Neel et al. to LNT is unclear.  Neither is
>the finding a new one.  In Awa's Chapter on Genetic Effects in "The
>Effects of A-Bomb Radiation on the Human Body" (Shigematsu et al. eds) is
>the conclusion.:"Although an attempt was made to assess the genetic
>effects of aomic bomb radiation through the cytogenetic analysis of the
>offspring of atomic bomb survivors, the results failed to provide any evidence 
>of genetic damage.  However, this does not preclude the possibility that
>radiation exposure causes an increased genetic risk, since it is necessary
>to consider various confounding factors."  The section goes on to cite 
>Neel et al. as proposing a doubling dose value of 1.7-2.2 Sieverts,
>suggesting that this may be greater than for mice.  The final sentence
>"The genetic effect of radiation on humnans is currently inadequately
>understood..." The publication date is 1995, Harwood Academic Publishers
>for Bunkoda Co. Ltd. Tokyo      John Goldsmith
>On Thu, 10 Jul 1997, H.Wade Patterson wrote:
>
>> Group:
>> At the HPS annual meeting there were arguments for and against the LNT
>> and similar models (hypotheses).
>> 
>> For your information,here's an interesting paper with findings that fail
>> to support the LNT and similar models (hypotheses). Quoting from
>> below:"No statistically significant effects emerge with respect to eight
>> different indicators."
>> 
>> Neel JV; Schull WJ; Awa AA; Satoh C; Kato H; Otake M; Yoshimoto Y.
>> The children of parents exposed to atomic bombs: estimates of the
>> genetic doubling dose of radiation for humans.
>> American Journal of Human Genetics, 1990 Jun, 46(6):1053-72.
>> 
>> Abstract: The data collected in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the past
>> 40 years on the children of survivors of the atomic bombings and on the
>> children of a suitable control population are analyzed on the basis of
>> the newly revised estimates of radiation doses. No statistically
>> significant effects emerge with respect to eight different indicators.
>> Since, however, it may confidently be assumed some mutations were
>> induced, we have taken the data at face value and calculated the minimal
>> gametic doubling doses of acute radiation for the individual indicators
>> at various probability levels. An effort has also been made to calculate
>> the most probable doubling dose for the indicators combined. The latter
>> value is between 1.7 and 2.2 Sv. It is suggested the appropriate figure
>> for chronic radiation would be between 3.4 and 4.5 Sv. These estimates
>> suggest humans are less sensitive to the genetic effects of radiation
>> than has been assumed on the basis of past extrapolations from
>> experiments with mice.
>> 
>> Best wishes to all,
>> -- 
>> Wade
>> 
>> mailto:hwade@triax.com
>> 
>> H.Wade Patterson
>> 1116 Linda Lane
>> Lakeview OR 97630
>> ph 541 947-4974
>> 
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