PubMed Nair99 Radiat Res - Kerala population

[Jim Muckerheide <jmuckerheide@delphi.com>]

Friends,

Yet another substantial study scientifically contradicts the LNT. (Can
do more work for biology and precision, but no effects in such
population-size/dose-differences refutes the LNT premise, much less
"supralinearity" :-)

Those with Rad Research are encouraged to provide any review/comments.

Regards, Jim Muckerheide
Radiation, Science, and Health
muckerheide@mediaone.net
==============================

Radiat Res 1999 Dec;152(6 Suppl):S145-8

 Population study in the high natural background radiation area in
kerala, India[QC. 
 Nair MK, Nambi KS, Amma NS, Gangadharan P, Jayalekshmi P, Jayadevan S,
Cherian V, Reghuram KN 
 Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum 695 011, Kerala, India.
 [Medline record in process]

A comprehensive survey of the population exposed to high-level natural
radiation is presented. The population living in Karunagappally taluk in
Kerala, India, presents a unique opportunity for studies on the health
effects of chronic exposure to low-level radiation. The environmental
radiation emanates largely from the thorium deposited mostly along
coastal areas. In certain locations on the coast, it is as high as 70
mGy/year and on average is 7.5 times the level seen in interior areas.
Using portable scintillometers, radiation levels in more than 66,306
houses were measured; outside levels were also measured in the same
house compound. Of the total population of 400,000, 100,000 lived in
areas with high natural radiation. Information on lifestyle,
socio-demographic features, occupation, housing, residence history, and
tobacco and alcohol use was obtained by house-to-house visits and
enumeration of every resident individual. A population cancer registry
system has been established to obtain cancer incidence rates. In this
preliminary analysis, there is no evidence that cancer occurrence is
consistently higher because of the levels of external gamma-radiation
exposure in the area. Further dosimetry-level studies are needed along
with biological studies. Studies of soil, thoron-in-breath, and the
radon-thoron levels in houses are ongoing, and further case-control
analyses are continuing.
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