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3. The ultimate Hormesis experiment continued (see TWTW of 26 July, 2003) Abstract submitted for Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference-2004 session on "Adaptive Responses Following Low-Dose Radiation Exposures" Title: New Approach for Radiation Protection and Medical Treatments based on the Observed Effect of Radiation Exposure on the Health of the Residents Who Lived in the Co-60 Contaminated Apartments in Taiwan W. L. Chen, Y. C. Luan, S. H. Mong, J. T. Wu, C. P. Sun, M. C. Shieh, S. T. Chen, H. T. Kung, K. L Soong, Y. C. Yeh, T. S. Chou, W. P. Deng, H. Y. Shen, M. L. Shen National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Nuclear Biological and Chemical Protection Society, 11F-5/110, Cheng-Tu Rd, Taipei ,Taiwan, ROC Nuclear Science & Technology Association, 4th F, No. 245, Sec. 3, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Taipai Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan , ROC National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 10764, ROC Abstract
The conventional approach for radiation protection and medical treatments is based on the LNT theory in ICRP-60, which implies that ionizing radiation is always harmful, no matter how small the dose. But a different approach can be derived from the serendipitous Co-60 contamination of 1700 apartments in Taiwan. This experience indicates that chronic exposure of the whole body to a low dose rate of radiation, accumulated to high annual dose, is always beneficial to human health. Approximately 10,000 residents lived in the Co-60 contaminated buildings and received quite high doses of radiation unknowingly during a period of 9-20 years. However, they did not suffer excess cancer mortality, as the LNT theory would predict. On the contrary, the incidence of spontaneous cancer deaths in this population was greatly reduced - to less than 5% of the cancer mortality of the general public in Taiwan (p < 0.01)! This observation contradicts the LNT theory; it supports the radiation hormesis theory. We should therefore expect a beneficial health effect, similar to that observed in this Co-60 contamination incident, for low dose exposures in nuclear power operations and in medical applications. Information about this Taiwan experience should be communicated to the public to help transform its radiation phobia into a more positive impression of radiation. This would enable expenditures of billions of dollars to be saved in nuclear reactor operation, and it would enable important medical applications of low-dose irradiation to be employed to prevent and cure human cancers. Of course, thorough scientific studies of these beneficial health effects should continue. These will serve to increase confidence in the validity of radiation hormesis phenomena. end ----- Original Message -----
From: S. Fred Singer
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 10:13 PM
Subject: The Week That Was. August 23, 2003 (ATTACHED) OR HTML VERSION AT http://www.sepp.org ************************************************************ |