nuclear-news

Low dose of radiation causes cataracts

Eye lens is more vulnerable to radiation: new studies IBN LIVE  PTI |  Jun 20,2011 There are three main forms of cataract; nuclear, cortical, and posterior sub-capsular (PSC). Among these, PSC is the least common and is associated with exposure to radiation. Till recently, scientists believed that cataract was formed only after the lens received a typical radiation dose, called the threshold dose, of 2Gy for a single dose, and 5 Gy when the exposure occurred in a protracted way. Not any more. Recent studies appear to show that formation of radiation induced cataracts at much lower doses than the current standards. ICRP now considers that the threshold dose for cataract is 0.5Gy. The present ICRP recommendations must serve as a wake-up call for interventional cardiology and radiology professionals, Parthasarathy said. Cataract analysis of 8,607 Chernobyl clean-up workers 12 and 14 years after exposure indicated that posterior sub-capsular or cortical cataracts appeared in 25 per cent of the participants…http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/eye-lens-is-more-vulnerable-to-radiation-new-studies/731307.html

June 21, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, health