Tuesday March 10 2009
CEA
Research on low doses of irradiation
CEA
Epidemiological studies have not found any evidence that ‘low doses’ are damaging to health. However, the absence of detectable effects does not automatically mean there is no risk. Experimental studies are thus being pursued to improve our knowledge of their effects on the body and to optimise radioprotection standards. A report drafted for a press statement reviews the advances in research in this field.
The term ‘weak dose’ is used to describe exposure doses of ionising radiation less than or equal to about 100 millisieverts. At this dose level, epidemiological studies have found no evidence for damaging effects on health. However, the absence of detectable effects does not automatically mean there is no risk. Experimental studies are thus being pursued to improve our knowledge of their effects on the body and to optimise radioprotection standards.
A report drafted for a press statement, entitled ‘Research on low doses of radiation’ reviews the advances in research in this field. It contains a first general section on low doses, which reviews the different sources of human exposure to low doses of ionising radiation, the management of the associated risks, the variability of effects, etc. A second part presents the main results of the Risc-Rad programme, a research project in cellular and molecular biology on the effects of low doses, which was completed in 2008. The third and last part deals with the future of European research in this field.