RADIATION PROTECTION IN CANADA. VI. PROBLEMS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC DAMAGE FROM EXPOSURE OF INDIVIDUALS AND POPULATIONS TO RADIATION.
Estimates of the genetic damage from radiation exposures of human populations are needed in order to set reasonable limits for future exposures. In addition to the three rads per generation received by the gonads from natural sources, a similar amount is currently contributed by medical radiology and a further five rads per generation has been suggested as an upper limit for exposures from the future peaceful uses of atomic energy. Two methods of estimating the genetic damage from such an increase suggest that there might be in the vicinity of 250 to 800 severely affected individuals per year in a population of 20 million people, or within an order of magnitude of the current highway fatality rate for Canada of about 4000 per year. Although the true value may be less, or greater, by as much as tenfold, the effect is in any case large enough to justify continued scrutiny.
D002170:Canada; D006066:Gonads; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011831:Radiation Genetics; D011835:Radiation Protection; D012106:Research
CANADA; GONADS; RADIATION GENETICS; RADIATION PROTECTION