The Role of Epidemiology in the Detection of Harmful Effects ofRadiation

[FIELDRW@aol.com]

FYI - There is an interesting editorial by Alice Stewart in the February 
issue of  
Environmental Health Perspectives (Volume 108, Number 2, February 2000).

The Role of Epidemiology in the Detection of Harmful Effects of Radiation 
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, 
Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom 
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Abstract
Data relating to acute injuries of atomic bomb survivors show that the life 
span study cohort is biased in favor of exceptionally low levels of 
radiosensitivity. These data also show that factors influencing the death 
rates of this cohort include irreversible damage to the immune system. These 
impressions are still awaiting confirmation. Meanwhile, the Oxford Survey of 
Childhood Cancers and surveys of nuclear workers show that at low dose levels 
the cancer risk is much greater than estimates based on atomic bomb 
survivors; the special association between leukemia and radiation is an 
exclusively high dose effect, and levels of radiosensitivity are much lower 
in the middle of the life span than at either extreme. Key words: competing 
causes of death, immune system dysfunction, late effects of radiation. 
Environ Health Perspect 108:93-96 (2000). [Online 21 December 1999] 
http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108p93-96stewart/abstract.html 

Regards, Bill Field

R. William Field, Ph.D.
College of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology
N222 Oakdale Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

319-335-4413 (phone)
319-335-4748 (fax)
mailto:bill-field@uiowa.edu
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