Documented optimum and threshold for ionising radiation

Abstract

A concept of the complete dose-response curve of ionising radiation will allow us to live in harmony with this ubiquitous agent. Convincing data show ionising radiation is essential for life. Ambient levels of ionising radiation (about 2 mSv/y without medical and cosmic radiation) are adequate for life but insufficient for abundant health. We live with a partial deficiency of ionising radiation. Thousands of people have lived for generations with 2-20 times the ambient levels of radiation without showing ill health. A conservative threshold, the maximum safe level of radiation, was estimated from abundant rodent data to be about 8000 mSv/y. When human and rodent data were collated, a conservative optimum of 60 mSv/y was obtained. Radiation levels greater than the threshold are harmful. The facts suggest that radiobiologists and governments should abandon the 'linear no threshold' (LNT) paradigm and accept natural and industrial low level sources of ionising radiation in order to promote abundant health.

Hormesis: Why it is important to toxicology and toxicologists

“…Luckey [153] frequently has stated that the environment in which humans now reside is far below the hormesis zone for ionizing radiation, because there has been substantial decay of radionuclides over billions of years. In the case of other agents, this has not been addressed.…”

The Healthy Worker Effect and Nuclear Industry Workers

“…People have lived at high levels of natural radiation for millenia (Luckey 1991) in many areas of the world; for example in some districts of China (HBRRG 1981), Brasil (Guarapari) and Iran (Ramsar). Annual doses in Ramsar can exceed 600 mSv (UNSCEAR 1994;Luckey 2007;Luckey 2008b). High level radiation areas also exist in Europe, e.g.…”

“…The average mortality of nuclear workers (67 ± 13%), was substantially lower than in control groups. A meta-analysis of mortality vs lifetime dose showed a lower cancer mortality for nuclear workers who received lifetime doses below 100 mSv (Luckey 2007). The control groups in Luckey's studies were chosen so as to minimize the Healthy Worker Effect (HWE).…”

Atomic Bomb Health Benefits

“…From the depths of devastation by atomic bombs, many Japanese scientists learned to accept the complete dose-response effects of ionizing radiation as a beneficial, required agent (Luckey 2007). Dr. Hattori, a leader in radiation hormesis, noted: “If radiation hormesis exists, our daily activities in radiation management have been extremely erroneous.” (Hattori, 1994).…”