Re: Background radiation and cancer

["Otto G. Raabe" <ograabe@ucdavis.edu>]

At 01:31 PM 2/26/98 -0600, Paul L. wrote:
>We have been involved in public meetings regarding radiation and cancer.
>One group has stated that up to 15 percent of ALL human cancers are from
>"background radiation" (their definition excludes ALL man-made sources -
>including medical). Does anyone know the source for a quote such as this?
>
This kind of "estimate" is the result of using the ICRP linear model and
risk factor for the public of 0.05 cancers per Sv. But these estimates are
wrong because radiation dose response for cancer is unlikely to be linear
down to background levels.


		*****************************************************
		Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
                [President, Health Physics Society, 1997-1998]
		Institute of Toxicology & Environmental Health (ITEH)
		     (Street address: Old Davis Road)
		University of California, Davis, CA 95616
		Phone: 530-752-7754  FAX: 530-758-6140 [NEW AREA CODE]
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