title: The Genetics Panel of the NAS BEAR I Committee (1956): epistolary evidence suggests self-interest may have prompted an exaggeration of radiation risks that led to the adoption of the LNT cancer risk assessment model.
abstract: This paper extends a series of historical papers which demonstrated that the linear-no-threshold (LNT) model for cancer risk assessment was founded on ideological-based scientific deceptions by key radiation genetics leaders. Based on an assessment of recently uncovered personal correspondence, it is shown that some members of the United States (US) National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation I (BEAR I) Genetics Panel were motivated by self-interest to exaggerate risks to promote their science and personal/professional agenda. Such activities have profound implications for public policy and may have had a significant impact on the adoption of the LNT model for cancer risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, Morrill I, N344, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA, edwardc@schoolph.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Calabrese
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D008192:Deception; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007953:Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009307:National Academy of Sciences, U.S.; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D028743:Professional Misconduct / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce