Dr. Tsubokura's Radiation Lecture Vol.146

Author: Masaharu Tsubokura M.D., PhD.

Editors: Akihiko Ozaki M.D.,PhD., Yuki Senoo MUDr.

291. The health risks of low-dose radiation is very small

　Although it is difficult to completely prove/disprove the health effects of low-dose radiation, an effective radiation control measure cannot be constructed based on vague standards. For this reason, radiation control measures are determined based on the hypothesis that the known health effects of high-dose radiation will occur in proportion to the level of radiation when receiving low doses of 100 millisieverts or less radiation exposure.

　Numerous researches have been conducted to assess potential association between radiation and health effects in different countries. There is a range of research with different study subjects: residents of high background natural radiation areas, those exposed to radioactive materials from nuclear tests, workers at nuclear facilities, and healthcare workers occupationally exposed to radiation for treatment and diagnosis.

　Of these researches, the reports on the atomic bombing survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are internationally recognized as the most accurate. This is because the Hiroshima and Nagasaki studies have been continuously conducted to date after World War II, providing details