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John Cameron
LONGEVITY IS THE BEST MEASURE OF
HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADIATION
John R. CameronProfessor Emeritus
University of Wisconsin
John Cameron
TRADITIONALLY HEALTH EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION HAVE BEEN MEASURED IN TERMS OF CANCER
INCIDENCE.
John Cameron
FROM STATE TO STATE, CANCER
VARIES MUCH MORE THAN LONGEVITY
MODERATE DOSE RATE RADIATION APPEARS
TO INCREASE LONGEVITY
John Cameron
I PROPOSE THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEASURE OF
THE HEALTH EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION IS
LONGEVITY
THE MOST CONVINCING HUMAN DATA ARE FROM
THE 100 YEAR DEATH RATES FROM ALL CAUSES
OF BRITISH RADIOLOGISTS (1897-1997) BJR JUNE 2001
John Cameron
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF RADIATION WORKERS IN THE WORLD. THE WORKERS WITH THE GREATEST OCCUPATIONAL DOSES WERE RADIOLOGISTS.
IF RADIOLOGISTS HAVE INCREASED LONGEVITY, SHOULD OTHER RADIATION WORKERS WORRY?
John Cameron
The best radiation health study ever
published:Berrington, A, Darby, SC,
Weiss, HA, & Doll, R. 100 years of observation on British radiologists: mortality
from cancer and other causes 1897-1997 Br J
Radiol. 74, 507-519 (2001)
John Cameron
The authors did not mention the good news
in their study“There was no evidence of an effect of radiation on diseases other than cancer even in the earliest radiologists, despite the fact that doses of the size received by them have been associated with more than a doubling in the death rate.”
John Cameron
MY ARTICLE IN THE JULY 2002 ISSUE OF BJR POINTS
OUT THAT: Radiation Increased the longevity of
British radiologists. Br J
Radiol 2002;75:637-8.
John Cameron
BRITISH RADIOLOGIST STUDY
Divided radiologists in to four groups:
1. 1897- 1921 huge doses;2. 1921-1935 more careful. 3..1936-1954 better yet4. 1955-1979 about 5mGy/y
John Cameron
Radiologists’ deaths from cancer and non-cancer were compared to that of all male MDs in England
John Cameron
Before 1921, radiologists had 75% more cancer deaths (P<0.001) but deaths from other causes were 14% lower (P<0.05) than for all male MDs. Deaths from all causes were 3% lower. (NS)
Large doses (~1 Gy/y) did not shorten longevity.
John Cameron
In 1920 British radiologists formed a x-ray safety committee to reduce
occupational radiation. The results were beneficial as the
following data indicate.
John Cameron
After 1920 no group of radiologists had a cancer death rate significantly greater than their medical colleagues.
John Cameron
The abrupt drop from p<0.001 to NS suggests
that the radiation induction of cancer has a significant threshold as shown by Evans’ 1974 study of radium dial painters & the Rossi-
Zaider’s 1997 study of lung cancer.
John Cameron
The1955-1979 British Radiologists had 29% lower
cancer deaths (NS); 36% lower non-cancer deaths (P<0.001) and 32% lower deaths (P<0.001) from all causes than the controls
John Cameron
Their lower death rate from all causes increased their
longevity by over three years! If all cancer were curable in the U.S., the longevity
would only increase 3 years !
John Cameron
FOR THE 100 YEARS, THE RADIOLOGISTS’ DEATHS FROM NON-CANCER WAS 14% LOWER (P<0.001); THEIR DEATH RATE FROM ALL CAUSES WAS 8% LOWER (P<0.01) THAN FOR ALL MALE MDs IN ENGLAND AND WALES.
John Cameron
The British radiologist study
suggests that moderate dose rate radiation increases
longevity.
John Cameron
we need a double blind human
radiation study to test the hypothesis
that increased radiation stimulates the immune system.
John Cameron
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have a 25% higher
cancer death rate than Wyoming, Idaho, and New
Mexico, even though background in the Mountain States is three times higher
than in the Gulf States.
John Cameron
In Ramsar, Iran some people have a background of over 200 mGy/y.
They have no apparent increase
in cancer.
John Cameron
This suggests that it is ethical to increase the background of senior citizens in the Gulf States to about 10 mGy/y
John Cameron
I propose a double blind human study of senior citizens in the Gulf States to see if a dose
rate of ~10 mGy/y will increase their
longevity.
John Cameron
Proposed research:
•Boxes of NORM under the beds of 50% of the volunteers (the cohort) will raise their background radiation to 10 mGy/y
John Cameron
The other 50% of the volunteers (the controls) will have identical boxes of inert material such as
sand. Neither the volunteers nor their
medical care givers will know who is receiving increased background.
John Cameron
The study will be relatively inexpensive – no special medical procedures will be needed.
Data on cause of death along with information on infections will be recorded.
The study will be done in large retirement homes where new volunteers will be available.
•
John Cameron
If increased radiation is beneficial, further studies will be needed to determine the recommended annual dose (RAD)
John Cameron
Caratero A et al: Effect of gamma radiation on the life span of mice. 1998 Faculte de Medecine, Toulouse, FranceThe life span of mice exposed to 7 or 14 cGy/year were compared to controls. 900 female mice, 1 month old, were used— 300 mice in each group living in the same room. life span was survival time of 50%: Results: controls 549 days, both irradiated groups 22% greater.
John Cameron
Some advantages of this study:
Many senior citizens will be willing to participate in the study – It will not involve medication or injections and it might prolong their lives.
John Cameron
POSITIVE RESULTS WOULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE WORLD
• It would improve health.• It would reduce radiation phobia • permit more use of nuclear power • save billions now wasted in storing
low level radioactive waste• High level radioactive waste could
be mixed with concrete in buildings to increase background to a healthy level.
John Cameron
Some closing words from
Dr. Lauriston Taylor, Founder in 1929
of the NCRP, in 1980 he wrote:
John Cameron
“No one has been identifiably injured by radiation while working within the first numerical standards set by the NCRP and the ICRP in 1934” (~25-50 rads/y)
John Cameron
“The theories about people being injured have still not led to the demonstration of injury and, if considered as facts by some, must only be looked upon as figments of the imagination.”
John Cameron
Virtual Radiation Museum
http://www.medphysics.wisc.edu/~vrm
RADIATION DISCUSSION ROOMS:1. Risks of low dose rate
radiation 2. Radiation Protection
Quantities 3. As Low As Reasonably
Achievable4.Dose levels to workers 5. How to reduce radiation
phobia.6. Critique of NCRP Report on
LNT7. Health effects of Radon
John Cameron
The management of the RDRs will be an Editor in Chief assisted by many
room editors. In addition there will 10-15 Honorary Editors from around the
World to advise the Editor in Chief. The RDRs are intended as archived
scientific discussions of radiation topics.
John Cameron
Each RDR will have 3 or more room editors to filter
contributions. The room editors should represent different view points on
the subject. Contributions must be like scientific
articles, with references where appropriate
John Cameron
The room editors will elect the “Editor in Chief” who will serve a single three
year term. I hope the first election will take place at
the end of 2003. I will serve as the “acting” Editor in
Chief.
This scheme will require cooperation from various groups, including ICRP &
NCRP
John Cameron
I don’t know all the answers but I know that low dose rate radiation is not a risk and may
be beneficial.SEND ME QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ANYTIME [email protected]
BEST WISHES, JOHN