Low doses of radiation — impact on the environment and human

Abstract

The health effects of low-dose ionizing radiation are critical in such important fields as X-ray imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear energy. However, all existing and potential applications are being challenged by public concerns and regulatory constraints. The goal was to review the literature in which health damage caused by radiation is assessed. An extensive search on PubMed was made. Particular attention was paid to articles cited in comprehensive reviews of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the 2016 report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on Atomic Radiation. Epidemiological data provide essentially no evidence of harmful health effects at doses below 100 mSv, and several studies suggest beneficial effects. There is growing evidence that low-dose radiation, such as that used in X-ray imaging, including computed tomography (CT), has beneficial health effects rather than poses a risk. A common trend observed in many occupationally exposed cohorts worldwide is that their mortality rate is generally lower than that of the general population.