LOW-DOSE RADIATION MORE SERIOUS THAN THOUGHT Radiation can trigger mutations in cells at levels ten times lower than the previously recognized threshold, according to a report in the December 4th edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. The research showed that a radiation dose that strikes just one cell in ten has the same mutagenic effect as a dose that hits every cell, because the cells struck by radiation send signals to surrounding cells causing them to undergo mutations in a so-called 'bystander effect.' The question of how cells respond to low levels of radiation has been a source of controversy for years, with mutations caused by it a potential source of cancer and birth defects. Public health officials have generally assumed that risk of radiation exposure is linearly proportional to the amount of radiation exposure, but these results may force officials to reconsider. The study is "another piece of hard evidence to suggest we may need to reassess" acceptable radiation levels, said Howard L. Liber, associate professor of radiobiology at Harvard School of Public Health. The researchers stress that the new findings do not suggest that a large new population of people is at risk, but only that cancer risk at low radiation doses may be greater than once thought. The results may also help clarify how radiation makes people sick. ArcMax.com Proceedings of the Nat'l Acad of Science, 12/4/01 U of Saarland, Homburg, Germany 3/03 Presented at Am Soc Thera Radio & Onc 10/04 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.