Radiation Hormesis and the Linear-No-Threshold Assumption

About this book

• Examines all facets of radiation hormesis, including the history of the concept and mechanisms, and presents comprehensive, up-to-date reviews for major cancer types
• Explains how low-dose radiation can decrease all-cause and all-cancer mortality and help to control metastatic cancer
• Highlights how proponents of the LNT assumption manipulate and ignore an abundance of published data supporting radiation hormesis

Current radiation protection standards are based upon the application of the linear no-threshold (LNT) assumption, which considers that even very low doses of ionizing radiation can cause cancer. The radiation hormesis hypothesis, by contrast, proposes that low-dose ionizing radiation is not only safe but is healthy and beneficial.

In this book, the author examines all facets of radiation hormesis in detail, including the history of the concept and mechanisms, and presents comprehensive, up-to-date reviews for major cancer types. It is explained how low-dose radiation can in fact decrease all-cause and all-cancer mortality and help to control metastatic cancer. Attention is also drawn to biases in epidemiological research when using the LNT assumption. The author shows how proponents of the LNT assumption consistently reject, manipulate, and deliberately ignore an overwhelming abundance of published data and falsely claim that no reliable data are available at doses of less than 100 mSv. The consequence of the LNT assumption is a radiophobia that is very costly in terms of lives and money.

Written for: Research and teaching professionals in the areas of radiobiology, health physics, nuclear engineering, energy research, environmental science

Keywords:

Epidemiology
Hormesis
LNT
Radiation
Radiobiology

Table of contents

Introduction.-molecular and cellular mechanisms.-environmental radiation.- accidents and incidents.-medical workers and patients.- nuclear workers.-biased epidemiological studies.-evidence negating the healthy worker effect.-lung cancer.- breast cancer.-leukemia.-liver, cns and thyroid cancers.- lifespan, birth defects and animal studies.- low dose radiation therapy.-summary and conclusions.