Individual Radiation Sensitivity and Biomarkers: Molecular Radiation Biology

Abstract

In recent years, scientific understanding of the changes radiation makes to the various tissues of the body has vastly increased. Identification of biological markers of radiation exposure and response has become a wide field with an increasing interest across the radiation research community. This chapter introduces the concepts of individual radiosensitivity, radiosusceptibility, and radiodegeneration, which are the key factors to classify radiation responses. Biomarkers are then introduced, and their key characteristics as well as classification are explained, with a particular focus on those biomarkers which have been identified for use in epidemiological studies of radiation risk—as this is a crucial topic of current interest within radiation protection. Brief information on collection of samples is followed by a detailed presentation of predictive assays in use in different settings including clinical applications with responses assessed chiefly in tissue biopsy or blood samples. The sections toward the end of this chapter then discuss the evidence associated with the relationship between age and separately sex, and radiosensitivity, as well as some genetic syndromes associated with radiosensitivity. The final section of this chapter provides a brief summary of how our current knowledge can further support individual, personalized, uses of radiation, particularly in clinical settings.

Assessment of Annual Effective Dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Due to Natural Background Radiation Levels in West Pokot, Kenya

“…The manifestation of cancer resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation does not manifest immediately; rather, its development is a gradual process that may span several years. According to (Ainsbury et al, 2023;Seibold et al, 2020), post-radiation exposure, various cancer types may emerge, albeit with varying frequencies, requiring detection through epidemiological methods. The interval between radiation exposure and the identi cation of cancer is termed the latent period, and this period can extend over numerous years.…”

Assessment of the Annual Effective Dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Due to Natural Background Radiation Levels in West Pokot, Kenya

“…The manifestation of cancer resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation does not manifest immediately; rather, its development is a gradual process that may last several years. According to (Ainsbury et al, 2023;Seibold et al, 2020), after radiation exposure, various cancer types may emerge, albeit with varying frequencies, requiring detection through epidemiological methods. The interval between radiation exposure and the identi cation of cancer is termed the latent period, and this period can extend over numerous years.…”