The probability of fatal cancer associated with protracted exposure to radiation

Abstract

In its 1990 recommendations, ICRP published information on the fatal cancer risk of chronic exposure to radiation. Calculations of the same form were repeated in a report by the first author using health effects information specific to a UK population. For constant annual doses over a complete lifetime, the UK estimates are broadly consistent with those given by ICRP and BEIR. However, because differences exist in the methodologies used, this may not be true of more realistic exposure situations. For the purpose of individual risk assessments, this paper gives some additional information on age- and sex-related organ risks for various tissue groups. Furthermore, a simple approach is presented for calculating fatal cancer risks for protracted exposure at different ages, and over different lengths of time.