Cost of fear and radiation protection actions: Washington County, Utah and Fukushima, Japan {Comparing case histories}

Church, Bruce W.; Brooks, Antone L.

doi:10.1080/09553002.2020.1721595

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…In addition, the fallout in Southern Utah had many radionuclides that deposited in the body that were not present at Fukushima. These included, to mention just a few, 90 Sr, 239 Pu, and 144 Ce, which resulted in an increased dose not discussed in this referenced manuscript (Church and Brooks 2020). The doses in both events were low enough that a measurable increase in cancer frequency was not predicted or measured (Lloyd et al 1990; UNSCEAR 2014; WHO 2013).…”

Section: Scientific Research and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How the Science of Radiation Biology Can Help Reduce the Crippling Fear of Low-level Radiation

Brooks

Conca²,

Glines

et al. 2023

Health Physics

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The fear of radiation has been present almost since the discovery of radiation, but has intensified since the “dawn of the atomic age” over 75 y ago. This fear has often served as an impediment to the safe and beneficial uses of radiation and radioactive material. The underlying causes of such fear are varied, can be complex, and are often not associated with any scientific knowledge or understanding. The authors believe that a clear understanding of the current scientific knowledge and understanding of the effects of radiation exposure may be useful in helping to allay some of the fear of radiation. This manuscript attempts to (1) address several scientific questions that we believe have contributed to the fear of radiation, (2) review the data derived from research that can be used to address these questions, and (3) summarize how the results of such scientific research can be used to help address the fear of low-dose and low-dose-rate radiation. Several examples of how fear of radiation has affected public perception of radiological events are discussed, as well as a brief history of the etiology of radiation fear. Actions needed to reduce the public fear of radiation and help fulfill the full societal benefits of radiation and radioactive materials are suggested.

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Section: Scientific Research and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By way of perspective, a recent paper vividly revealed the striking contrast in the results between two different responses to a radiation release: Fukushima and St. George, Utah (Church and Brooks 2020). It was determined that Southern Utah had about three times more external radiation dose than was measured in Fukushima.…”

Section: Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

How the Science of Radiation Biology Can Help Reduce the Crippling Fear of Low-level Radiation

Brooks

Conca²,

Glines

et al. 2023

Health Physics

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“…These emissions make 137 Cs / 137m Ba a potential source for exposure from both internal and external radiation dose. Thus, 137 Cs is a prime radionuclide of concern in fallout, nuclear waste, and following many nuclear accidents such as Fukushima (Church and Brooks 2020; NCRP 2006). The gamma rays associated with 137 Cs are easily detected and quantitated, making it possible to determine its activity, distribution, and movement through the environment (NCRP 1977).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiobiology of Select Radionuclides in Hanford Site Tank Waste

2022

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There are several important radionuclides involved in the "clean-up" or environmental isolation of nuclear waste contained in US Department of Energy Hanford Site underground waste tanks that drive many of the decisions associated with this activity. To make proper human health risk analyses and ensure that the most appropriate decisions are made, it is important to understand the radiation biology and the human health risk associated with these radionuclides. This manuscript provides some basic radiological science, in particular radiation biology, for some of these radionuclides, i.e., 3 H, 90 Sr, 137 Cs, 99 Tc, 129 I, and the alpha emitters 239, 240 Pu, 233,234,235,238 U, and 241 Am. These radionuclides were selected based on their designation as "constituents of potential concern," historical significance, or potential impact on human health risk. In addition to the radiobiology of these select radionuclides, this manuscript provides brief discussions of the estimated cost of planned management of Hanford tank waste and a comparison with releases into the Techa River from activities associated with the Mayak Production Association. A set of summary conclusions of the potential human health risks associated with these radionuclides is given.

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“…If an accepted threshold dose had been established and applied for evacuations prior to the Chernobyl or Fukushima accidents, a great many lives would have been saved-to say nothing of the extreme discomfort suffered by those subjected to prolonged evacuations. 16 The next R&D target might be to establish a damage threshold dose for siting a high-level nuclear repository waste site. That limit could be 100 mGy/year, which is less than half the upper level of threshold of reduced life span in experimental settings with chronically exposed dogs.…”

Section: Threshold B Doses For Defined Damagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If an accepted threshold dose had been established and applied for evacuations prior to the Chernobyl or Fukushima accidents, a great many lives would have been saved—to say nothing of the extreme discomfort suffered by those subjected to prolonged evacuations. 16 …”

Section: Threshold B Doses For Defined Damagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Double Threshold: Consequences for Identifying Low-Dose Radiation Effects

Waltar

Feinendegen

2020

Dose-Response

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Prior to observing low-dose-induced cell signaling and adaptive protection, radiogenic stochastic effects were assumed to be linearly related to absorbed dose. Now, abundant data prove the occurrence of radiogenic adaptive protection specifically at doses below ∼ 200 mGy (with some data suggesting such protection at a dose even higher than 200 mGy). Moreover, cells do not thrive properly when deprived of radiation below background dose. Two threshold doses need be considered in constructing a valid dose-response relationship. With doses beginning to rise from zero, cells increasingly escape radiation deprivation. The dose at which radiation-deprived cells begin to function homeostatically provides dose Threshold A. With further dose increase, adaptive protection becomes prominent and then largely disappears at acute doses above ∼ 200 mGy. The dose at which damage begins to override protection defines Threshold B. Thresholds A and B should be terms in modeling dose-response functions. Regarding whole-body responses, current data suggest for low-LET acute, non-chronic, irradiation a Threshold B of about 100 mGy prevails, except for leukemia and probably some other malignancies, and for chronic, low dose-rate irradiation where the Threshold B may well reach 1 Gy per year. A new Research and Development Program should determine individual Thresholds A and B for various radiogenic cell responses depending on radiation quality and target.

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Cost of fear and radiation protection actions: Washington County, Utah and Fukushima, Japan {Comparing case histories}

Cited by 6 publications

References 35 publications

How the Science of Radiation Biology Can Help Reduce the Crippling Fear of Low-level Radiation

How the Science of Radiation Biology Can Help Reduce the Crippling Fear of Low-level Radiation

Radiobiology of Select Radionuclides in Hanford Site Tank Waste

The Double Threshold: Consequences for Identifying Low-Dose Radiation Effects

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