Estimates of Relative Risks for Cancers in a Population after Prolonged Low-Dose-Rate Radiation Exposure: A Follow-up Assessment from 1983 to 2005

Abstract

Radiation effects on cancer risks in a cohort of Taiwanese residents who received protracted low-dose-rate gamma-radiation exposures from (60)Co-contaminated reinforcing steel used to build their apartments were studied, and risks were compared to those in other radiation-exposed cohorts. Analyses were based on a more extended follow-up of the cohort population in which 117 cancer cases diagnosed between 1983 and 2005 among 6,242 people with an average excess cumulative exposure estimate of about 48 mGy. Cases were identified from Taiwan's National Cancer Registry. Radiation effects on cancer risk were estimated using proportional hazards models and were summarized in terms of the hazard ratio associated with a 100-mGy increase in dose (HR(100mGy)). A significant radiation risk was observed for leukemia excluding chronic lymphocytic leukemia (HR(100mGy) 1.19, 90% CI 1.01-1.31). Breast cancer exhibited a marginally significant dose response (HR(100mGy) 1.12, 90% CI 0.99-1.21). The results further strengthen the association between protracted low-dose radiation and cancer risks, especially for breast cancers and leukemia, in this unique cohort population.

A meta-analysis of leukaemia risk from protracted exposure to low-dose gamma radiation

“…Exposure information was obtained from personal monitoring data in most occupational settings, although monitoring may have been incomplete or highly uncertain in some studies 22 26. Personal monitoring data were not available for environmental studies; thus, doses were estimated using complex dosimetry systems 19 21 28…”

“…1. Hwang et al 19 examined leukaemia incidence in a cohort of Taiwanese residents (n=6242) exposed between 1983 and 1992 from52 Co-contaminated reinforcing steel used to construct their dwellings 19. Only six incident leukaemias occurred in a cohort whose average excess cumulative exposure was less than 50 mGy (range: <1–2363).…”

The Content of Elements in Rainwater and Its Relation to the Frequency of Hospitalization for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Opole Voivodship, Poland, During 2000–2002

“…Such factors are characterized by the ability of specific influencing and modifying cell genetic material. In the case of CML, ionizing radiation and benzene exposure, together with its main metabolite catechol, have been identified as risk factors [29][30][31][32][33]. On the other hand, CLL has not been connected with environmental risk factors [29,[34][35][36].…”

“…In the case of CML, ionizing radiation and benzene exposure, together with its main metabolite catechol, have been identified as risk factors [29][30][31][32][33]. On the other hand, CLL has not been connected with environmental risk factors [29,[34][35][36]. Presently, many authors think that exposure to ionizing and nonionizing radiation such as electric or electromagnetic fields and long-term exposure to chemical substances used in hair dyes production or mortar construction kits correlate positively with a higher risk of CLL [37][38][39][40][41].…”

Low Dose Radiation Adaptive Protection to Control Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…An analysis of the reported cancer incidence among the residents of apartments in Taiwan who were subjected to LDR from contaminated building materials (Hwang et al, 2006;Hwang et al, 2008) has shown a reduced overall cancer incidence in the radiated cohort in comparison to an age-matched control group (Doss, 2013).…”