A study published in The BMJ suggests that prolonged exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may pose a higher risk of death from cancer than previously believed. The research, based on data from the International Nuclear Workers Study (INWORKS) tracking 309,932 nuclear industry workers from the UK, France, and the US, found that for each unit of radiation (Gray; Gy) absorbed, the risk of death from solid cancers increased by 52%. This risk approximately doubled when analyzing workers exposed to the lowest cumulative doses of radiation (0-100 mGy). The findings challenge previous risk estimates based on atomic bomb survivors and indicate that current workplace protection rules for low-dose radiation exposure may underestimate cancer risks. The researchers highlight the need for organizations like the International Commission on Radiological Protection to update their assessment of low-dose radiation risks based on these new findings.
Full story can be found on MedicalXPress.
Learn more about our dosimetry services to help protect your employees from radiation exposure.