On harmonization of health risk indicators caused by ionizing radiation exposure and other harmful factors based on DALY estimates

Abstract

Radiation detriment is a basic measure which is currently applied to assess health risks caused by exposure to ionizing radiation. This concept was developed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) more than 30 years ago; it has both certain advantages and drawbacks that limit the scope of its possible application. A certain drawback is that this value is used exclusively to assess effects produced on health by radiation thus making it ineligible for correct comparative analysis of different risks. This review focuses on contemporary scientific papers devoted to various approaches to calculating radiation detriment. There is also an attempt to analyze whether it is possible to apply the WHO methodology for assessing burden of disease as a basis for calculating universal risk rates taking into account effects produced by exposure to harmful environmental factors on population health. A possibility to use DALY (disability-adjusted life years) estimate is considered as one of possible approaches to harmonizing health risk assessment methodologies. DALY is among estimates that are frequently used to assess population health when solving various tasks in public healthcare. The review dwells on discussing whether it is advisable and feasible to gradually change a methodology for calculating radiation detriment in order to use the effective dose as a measure of health risk more correctly.