John Cameron

LONGEVITY IS THE BEST MEASURE OF

HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADIATION

John R. CameronProfessor Emeritus

University of Wisconsin

John Cameron

TRADITIONALLY HEALTH EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION HAVE BEEN MEASURED IN TERMS OF CANCER

INCIDENCE.

John Cameron

FROM STATE TO STATE, CANCER

VARIES MUCH MORE THAN LONGEVITY

MODERATE DOSE RATE RADIATION APPEARS

TO INCREASE LONGEVITY

John Cameron

I PROPOSE THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEASURE OF

THE HEALTH EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION IS

LONGEVITY

THE MOST CONVINCING HUMAN DATA ARE FROM

THE 100 YEAR DEATH RATES FROM ALL CAUSES

OF BRITISH RADIOLOGISTS (1897-1997) BJR JUNE 2001

John Cameron

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF RADIATION WORKERS IN THE WORLD. THE WORKERS WITH THE GREATEST OCCUPATIONAL DOSES WERE RADIOLOGISTS.

IF RADIOLOGISTS HAVE INCREASED LONGEVITY, SHOULD OTHER RADIATION WORKERS WORRY?

John Cameron

The best radiation health study ever

published:Berrington, A, Darby, SC,

Weiss, HA, & Doll, R. 100 years of observation on British radiologists: mortality

from cancer and other causes 1897-1997 Br J

Radiol. 74, 507-519 (2001)

John Cameron

The authors did not mention the good news

in their study“There was no evidence of an effect of radiation on diseases other than cancer even in the earliest radiologists, despite the fact that doses of the size received by them have been associated with more than a doubling in the death rate.”

John Cameron

MY ARTICLE IN THE JULY 2002 ISSUE OF BJR POINTS

OUT THAT: Radiation Increased the longevity of

British radiologists. Br J

Radiol 2002;75:637-8.

John Cameron

BRITISH RADIOLOGIST STUDY

Divided radiologists in to four groups:

1. 1897- 1921 huge doses;2. 1921-1935 more careful. 3..1936-1954 better yet4. 1955-1979 about 5mGy/y

John Cameron

Radiologists’ deaths from cancer and non-cancer were compared to that of all male MDs in England

John Cameron

Before 1921, radiologists had 75% more cancer deaths (P<0.001) but deaths from other causes were 14% lower (P<0.05) than for all male MDs. Deaths from all causes were 3% lower. (NS)

Large doses (~1 Gy/y) did not shorten longevity.

John Cameron

In 1920 British radiologists formed a x-ray safety committee to reduce

occupational radiation. The results were beneficial as the

following data indicate.

John Cameron

After 1920 no group of radiologists had a cancer death rate significantly greater than their medical colleagues.

John Cameron

The abrupt drop from p<0.001 to NS suggests

that the radiation induction of cancer has a significant threshold as shown by Evans’ 1974 study of radium dial painters & the Rossi-

Zaider’s 1997 study of lung cancer.

John Cameron

The1955-1979 British Radiologists had 29% lower

cancer deaths (NS); 36% lower non-cancer deaths (P<0.001) and 32% lower deaths (P<0.001) from all causes than the controls

John Cameron

Their lower death rate from all causes increased their

longevity by over three years! If all cancer were curable in the U.S., the longevity

would only increase 3 years !

John Cameron

FOR THE 100 YEARS, THE RADIOLOGISTS’ DEATHS FROM NON-CANCER WAS 14% LOWER (P<0.001); THEIR DEATH RATE FROM ALL CAUSES WAS 8% LOWER (P<0.01) THAN FOR ALL MALE MDs IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

John Cameron

The British radiologist study

suggests that moderate dose rate radiation increases

longevity.

John Cameron

we need a double blind human

radiation study to test the hypothesis

that increased radiation stimulates the immune system.

John Cameron

Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have a 25% higher

cancer death rate than Wyoming, Idaho, and New

Mexico, even though background in the Mountain States is three times higher

than in the Gulf States.

John Cameron

In Ramsar, Iran some people have a background of over 200 mGy/y.

They have no apparent increase

in cancer.

John Cameron

This suggests that it is ethical to increase the background of senior citizens in the Gulf States to about 10 mGy/y

John Cameron

I propose a double blind human study of senior citizens in the Gulf States to see if a dose

rate of ~10 mGy/y will increase their

longevity.

John Cameron

Proposed research:

•Boxes of NORM under the beds of 50% of the volunteers (the cohort) will raise their background radiation to 10 mGy/y

John Cameron

The other 50% of the volunteers (the controls) will have identical boxes of inert material such as

sand. Neither the volunteers nor their

medical care givers will know who is receiving increased background.

John Cameron

The study will be relatively inexpensive – no special medical procedures will be needed.

Data on cause of death along with information on infections will be recorded.

The study will be done in large retirement homes where new volunteers will be available.

•

John Cameron

If increased radiation is beneficial, further studies will be needed to determine the recommended annual dose (RAD)

John Cameron

Caratero A et al: Effect of gamma radiation on the life span of mice. 1998 Faculte de Medecine, Toulouse, FranceThe life span of mice exposed to 7 or 14 cGy/year were compared to controls. 900 female mice, 1 month old, were used— 300 mice in each group living in the same room. life span was survival time of 50%: Results: controls 549 days, both irradiated groups 22% greater.

John Cameron

Some advantages of this study:

Many senior citizens will be willing to participate in the study – It will not involve medication or injections and it might prolong their lives.

John Cameron

POSITIVE RESULTS WOULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE WORLD

• It would improve health.• It would reduce radiation phobia • permit more use of nuclear power • save billions now wasted in storing

low level radioactive waste• High level radioactive waste could

be mixed with concrete in buildings to increase background to a healthy level.

John Cameron

Some closing words from

Dr. Lauriston Taylor, Founder in 1929

of the NCRP, in 1980 he wrote:

John Cameron

“No one has been identifiably injured by radiation while working within the first numerical standards set by the NCRP and the ICRP in 1934” (~25-50 rads/y)

John Cameron

“The theories about people being injured have still not led to the demonstration of injury and, if considered as facts by some, must only be looked upon as figments of the imagination.”

John Cameron

Virtual Radiation Museum

http://www.medphysics.wisc.edu/~vrm

RADIATION DISCUSSION ROOMS:1. Risks of low dose rate

radiation 2. Radiation Protection

Quantities 3. As Low As Reasonably

Achievable4.Dose levels to workers 5. How to reduce radiation

phobia.6. Critique of NCRP Report on

LNT7. Health effects of Radon

John Cameron

The management of the RDRs will be an Editor in Chief assisted by many

room editors. In addition there will 10-15 Honorary Editors from around the

World to advise the Editor in Chief. The RDRs are intended as archived

scientific discussions of radiation topics.

John Cameron

Each RDR will have 3 or more room editors to filter

contributions. The room editors should represent different view points on

the subject. Contributions must be like scientific

articles, with references where appropriate

John Cameron

The room editors will elect the “Editor in Chief” who will serve a single three

year term. I hope the first election will take place at

the end of 2003. I will serve as the “acting” Editor in

Chief.

This scheme will require cooperation from various groups, including ICRP &

NCRP

John Cameron

I don’t know all the answers but I know that low dose rate radiation is not a risk and may

be beneficial.SEND ME QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS ANYTIME JRCAMERO@WISC.EDU

BEST WISHES, JOHN