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Ionising radiation’s cancer risk just as great for older persons

Recent analysis of the statistical evidence from long-term studies of atomic bomb survivors in Japan indicates that for radiation exposure after about age 30, the risk of developing radiation-induced cancer does not continue to decrease.

Radiation exposure: cancer risk in middle age, The Hindu ,  K.S. PARTHASARATHY, 4 Nov 10, The risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure in middle age may not be lower than the risk with exposure at younger ages.

Study of the data on A-bomb survivors continues to throw surprises.

An interesting analysis published in the  Journal of the National Cancer Institute (25 October 2010) revealed that  contrary to common assumptions, the risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure in middle age may not be lower than the risk associated with exposure at younger ages. The study is important as most of the diagnostic studies and occupational radiation exposures occur at middle age..

Latent period

Children are more sensitive than adults to the effects of radiation as the cells in the body are dividing rapidly. Generally, cancer is induced after a latent period. Since children have longer life than adults, they have a greater chance of developing radiation-induced cancer than adults. Some data also suggest that, in general, the older a person is when exposed to radiation, the lower their risk of developing a radiation-induced cancer.

Recent analysis of the statistical evidence from long-term studies of atomic bomb survivors in Japan indicates that for radiation exposure after about age 30, the risk of developing radiation-induced cancer does not continue to decrease. This was not consistent with earlier studies.

: Radiation exposure: cancer risk in middle age

November 4, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, Japan | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, radiation, radioactive