Uploaded October 2014 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
All studies cited…
New study reviewed
Kashcheev et al. (2014). Incidence and mortality of solid cancer among emergency workers of the Chernobyl accident: assessment of radiation risks for the follow-up period of 1992-2009. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics. Oct 15. pubmed.gov/25315643
Meta-analyses of radiation-worker studies cited @ 1:56
Jacob et al. (2009). Is cancer risk of radiation workers larger than expected? Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 66(12):789–96. pubmed.gov/19570756
Relevant quote of Jacob: "The ICRP and BEIR VII base their DDREFs mainly on radiobiological results including animal data, which, in their majority, suggest a characteristically low risk for low-dose-rate exposures. It remains an open question as to why this characteristic is apparently not reflected in the human epidemiological data."
Cardis et al. (2007). The 15-Country Collaborative Study of Cancer Risk among Radiation Workers in the Nuclear Industry: estimates of radiation-related cancer risks. Radiation Research, 167(4):396-416. pubmed.gov/17388693
Relevant quote of Cardis: "Risk estimates per unit dose from this study are statistically compatible with estimates that serve as the basis for current radiation protection standards. They range from values lower than the BEIR VII estimates up to values that exceed these estimates by a factor of about six for both solid cancers and leukemia. This is the largest analytical epidemiological study of the effects of low-dose protracted exposures to ionizing radiation to date."
So the radiation-worker epidemiology (involving slow-dose rates) match or exceed the risk of BEIR VII, which is based on the atomic-bomb cohort (involving a fast-dose rate). So it seems dubious that slow dose rates are less harmful, and Kashcheev (2014) adds to that impression.
Other Chernobyl worker solid-cancer studies cited @ 2:05
Rahu et al. (2013). Site-specific cancer risk in the Baltic cohort of Chernobyl cleanup workers, 1986-2007. Eur J Cancer. 2013 Sep;49(13):2926-33. pubmed.gov/23683549
Prysyazhnyuk et al. (2007). Twenty years after the Chernobyl accident: solid cancer incidence in various groups of the Ukrainian population. Radiat Environ Biophys. 46(1):43-51. pubmed.gov/17279359
Ivanov (2007). Late cancer and noncancer risks among Chernobyl emergency workers of Russia. Health Phys. 93(5):470-9. pubmed.gov/18049223
Ivanov et at. (2004). Solid cancer incidence among the Chernobyl emergency workers residing in Russia: estimation of radiation risks. Radiat Environ Biophys. 43(1):35-42. pubmed.gov/14762668
Graph of A-bomb solid-cancer latency @ 2:31 derived from
Douple et al. (2011). Long-term radiation-related health effects in a unique human population: lessons learned from the atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Disaster Med Public Health Prep, 5 Suppl 1:S122-33. pubmed.gov/21402804
Historic insights into A-bomb cohort @ 2:54
Beebe et al. (1971). Studies of the Mortality of A-Bomb Survivors 4. Mortality and radiation dose, 1950-1966. Radiation Research, 48(3):613-649. pubmed.gov/5137468
Graph & chart on required sample size @ 5:21 & 6:29
Brenner et al. (2003). Cancer risks attributable to low doses of ionizing radiation: Assessing what we really know. PNAS, 100(24):13761–66.
pnas.org/content/100/24/13761.full.pdf
National Research Council (1995). Radiation Dose Reconstruction for Epidemiologic Uses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, p. 73. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4760&page=73
Estimate of Chernobyl death tolls @ 8:11 from
European Environmental Agency (2013). Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation. EEA Report 1/2013, Chap 18, p. 435, European Environmental Agency, Copenhagen. http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/late-lessons-2
.
All studies cited…
New study reviewed
Kashcheev et al. (2014). Incidence and mortality of solid cancer among emergency workers of the Chernobyl accident: assessment of radiation risks for the follow-up period of 1992-2009. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics. Oct 15. pubmed.gov/25315643
Meta-analyses of radiation-worker studies cited @ 1:56
Jacob et al. (2009). Is cancer risk of radiation workers larger than expected? Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 66(12):789–96. pubmed.gov/19570756
Relevant quote of Jacob: "The ICRP and BEIR VII base their DDREFs mainly on radiobiological results including animal data, which, in their majority, suggest a characteristically low risk for low-dose-rate exposures. It remains an open question as to why this characteristic is apparently not reflected in the human epidemiological data."
Cardis et al. (2007). The 15-Country Collaborative Study of Cancer Risk among Radiation Workers in the Nuclear Industry: estimates of radiation-related cancer risks. Radiation Research, 167(4):396-416. pubmed.gov/17388693
Relevant quote of Cardis: "Risk estimates per unit dose from this study are statistically compatible with estimates that serve as the basis for current radiation protection standards. They range from values lower than the BEIR VII estimates up to values that exceed these estimates by a factor of about six for both solid cancers and leukemia. This is the largest analytical epidemiological study of the effects of low-dose protracted exposures to ionizing radiation to date."
So the radiation-worker epidemiology (involving slow-dose rates) match or exceed the risk of BEIR VII, which is based on the atomic-bomb cohort (involving a fast-dose rate). So it seems dubious that slow dose rates are less harmful, and Kashcheev (2014) adds to that impression.
Other Chernobyl worker solid-cancer studies cited @ 2:05
Rahu et al. (2013). Site-specific cancer risk in the Baltic cohort of Chernobyl cleanup workers, 1986-2007. Eur J Cancer. 2013 Sep;49(13):2926-33. pubmed.gov/23683549
Prysyazhnyuk et al. (2007). Twenty years after the Chernobyl accident: solid cancer incidence in various groups of the Ukrainian population. Radiat Environ Biophys. 46(1):43-51. pubmed.gov/17279359
Ivanov (2007). Late cancer and noncancer risks among Chernobyl emergency workers of Russia. Health Phys. 93(5):470-9. pubmed.gov/18049223
Ivanov et at. (2004). Solid cancer incidence among the Chernobyl emergency workers residing in Russia: estimation of radiation risks. Radiat Environ Biophys. 43(1):35-42. pubmed.gov/14762668
Graph of A-bomb solid-cancer latency @ 2:31 derived from
Douple et al. (2011). Long-term radiation-related health effects in a unique human population: lessons learned from the atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Disaster Med Public Health Prep, 5 Suppl 1:S122-33. pubmed.gov/21402804
Historic insights into A-bomb cohort @ 2:54
Beebe et al. (1971). Studies of the Mortality of A-Bomb Survivors 4. Mortality and radiation dose, 1950-1966. Radiation Research, 48(3):613-649. pubmed.gov/5137468
Graph & chart on required sample size @ 5:21 & 6:29
Brenner et al. (2003). Cancer risks attributable to low doses of ionizing radiation: Assessing what we really know. PNAS, 100(24):13761–66.
pnas.org/content/100/24/13761.full.pdf
National Research Council (1995). Radiation Dose Reconstruction for Epidemiologic Uses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, p. 73. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4760&page=73
Estimate of Chernobyl death tolls @ 8:11 from
European Environmental Agency (2013). Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation. EEA Report 1/2013, Chap 18, p. 435, European Environmental Agency, Copenhagen. http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/late-lessons-2
.
