Assessing cancer risks of low-dose radiation.

Mullenders, Leon; Atkinson, Mike; Paretzke, Herwig; Sabatier, Laure; Bouffler, Simon · Nat Rev Cancer · 2009

review · Level V

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Abstract

Ionizing radiation is considered a non-threshold carcinogen. However, quantifying the risk of the more commonly encountered low and/or protracted radiation exposures remains problematic and subject to uncertainty. Therefore, a major challenge lies in providing a sound mechanistic understanding of low-dose radiation carcinogenesis. This Perspective article considers whether differences exist between the effects mediated by high- and low-dose radiation exposure and how this affects the assessment of low-dose cancer risk.

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