What is the relationship between radiation dose and harmful effects?
Estimates of risk from exposure to radiation are based on studies of people who were exposed to fairly high doses of radiation and where cancers have been observed. They include the survivors of the atom bombs in Japan, patients exposed to high levels of radiation dose for treatment of cancer, and groups of exposed workers in some industry. Doses of relevance in nuclear industry are low level radiation exposures over time (chronic exposures). In the absence of any concrete proof of radiation risk, and as matter of abundant caution, it is assumed that the risk is proportional to dose. Smaller the dose, smaller is the risk of radiation exposure.
