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Medical Exposures and Workers

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Radiation Hormesis and the Linear-No-Threshold Assumption

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Relatively low dose radiotherapy has been used to treat a variety of acute and chronic infl ammatory diseases and painful disorders for over 70 years [1]. These include nasopha-ryngeal radium radiotherapy for adenoid hypertrophy, and low dose X-ray radiotherapy for skin hemangioma, thymus gland enlargement, benign breast disease, and fertility problems. Recommended single doses were 0.3–1.0 Gy in 4–5 fractions for acute and 1–3 fractions for chronic diseases per week for total doses of 3–5 and 12 Gy, respectively [2, 3]. Decreased cancer risks among these exposed clinical groups will be examined in subsequent chapters.

Radon has been therapeutically used for centuries to treat infectious and infl ammatory conditions, and as an analgesic and anti-infl ammatory agent for arthritis, rheumatism, fi bromyalgia, psoriasis, asthma and bronchitis [4–6]. Radon is helpful in the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis [7]. Tens of thousands of people annually expose themselves to high levels of radon for therapeutic benefi t in old mines, spas and clinics exposed by inhalation, bath or steam (Chap. 14). 222Rn gas enhances the activity of superoxide dis-mutase and catalase, inhibits lipid peroxidation, and enhances immune function (mitogen response, CD4 and CD8 positive cells, which are markers for helper T cells and killer T cells, respectively) [8, 9]. Epidemiological studies of radon therapy patients have not demonstrated any carcinogenic effect from radon therapy up to 1,000 Bq/m3, or seven times the EPA limit (Chap. 8) [9].

The NCRP could turn on us at any time and come up with new recommendations, perhaps under pressure to implement the ICRP model. It is also clear from history that you can never relax your vigilance with so many groups trying to meddle and regulate in this arena

(Bob Dixon)

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Gwahak-ro (373-1 Guseong-dong), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea

    Charles L. Sanders

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(2010). Medical Exposures and Workers. In: Sanders, C.L. (eds) Radiation Hormesis and the Linear-No-Threshold Assumption. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03720-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03720-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-03719-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-03720-7

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