RADIATION PROTECTION IN CANADA. PART VI. PROBLEMS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC DAMAGE FROM EXPOSURE OF INDIVIDUALS AND POPULATIONS TO RADIATION,

Abstract

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. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0613082

Entities

People

  • Howard B. Newcombe

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Demography
  • Energy
  • Fatalities
  • Human Population
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Protection
  • Radiology

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Educational Psychology
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology