The linear no-threshold theory: Readers weigh in

Abstract

A letter in the January 2016 issue of Physics Today questioned the validity of the linear no-threshold (LNT) model of radiation damage. We would like to share the results of a study that shows a threshold effect in fruit flies.11. M. Antosh et al., Dose–Response 12, 551 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2203/dose-response.13-047.AntoshIn our experiment, we gave fruit flies one dose of radiation shortly after they hatched. The incident radiation exposures ranged from 0.1 J/kg to 1000 J/kg (10–100 000 roentgen). We tracked life spans and gene expression at 2 days, 10 days, and 20 days after irradiation.We found that there was no measurable effect on lifetimes below a radiation threshold of 50 J/kg. Above that threshold, lifetimes decreased. Below it, whatever gene expression changes occur at 2 days and 10 days are corrected at 20 days. Above the threshold, the changes are not corrected.Obviously, many questions remain, but our results clearly indicate that the LNT model is not applicable in our experiment.REFERENCESSection:ChooseTop of pageREFERENCES <<1. M. Antosh et al., Dose–Response 12, 551 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2203/dose-response.13-047.Antosh, Google ScholarCrossref, ISI© 2016 American Institute of Physics.