What is known about the effects of low level radiation received over a long period?
Epidemiological data on chronic low-dose exposures are available from studies of radiation workers. For example, a combined analysis of data from the UK, USA, and Canada showed a statistically significant association between occupational dose and leukaemia risk. Similar findings arose from a large study by NRPB, now the Radiation Protection Division of HPA, of UK radiation workers. The estimates of risk per unit dose, both for leukaemia and all other cancers, are consistent with the A-bomb findings, although the corresponding statistical confidence intervals are somewhat wide. Continued follow-up of these workers will reduce the statistical uncertainties. Further information on the effects of dose protraction arise from a multitude of animal studies. These studies suggest that for a given cumulative low-LET dose, the cancer risk is lower at low than at high dose rates.
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