«IS THERE A NEED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST EXPOSURE TO LOW LEVELS OF IONIZING RADIATION?»

1. «IS THERE A NEED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST EXPOSURE TO LOW LEVELS OF IONIZING RADIATION?» Professor Emeritus André MAÏSSEU President – World Council of Nuclear Workers (WONUC)

2. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU In his Nobel Prize Lecture of December 12, 1946, Hermann J. Muller argued that the dose–response for radiation-induced germ cell mutations was linear and that there was ‘‘no escape from the conclusion that there is no threshold’’. However, assessment of correspondence between Muller and Curt Stern 1 month prior to his Nobel Prize Lecture reveals that Muller knew the results and implications of a recently completed study at the University of Rochester under the direction of Stern, which directly contradicted his Nobel Prize Lecture, even if Muller denied always to be informed about the Stern’s results. “Muller’s Nobel lecture on dose–response for ionizing radiation: ideology or science? Edward J. Calabrese vol81, N°4, April 2007 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

3. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU This finding is of historical importance since Muller’s Nobel Lecture gained considerable international attention and is a turning point in the acceptance of the linearity model in risk assessment for germ cell mutations and carcinogens. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

4. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU RADIOACTIVITY IS NOT A DIABOLIC CREATION OF HUMANKIND. RADIOACTIVITY WAS AT THE START OF HUMANITY BILLIONS YEARS AGO. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

5. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU RADIATION IS ENERGY IN TRANSIT IN THE FORM OF HIGH SPEED PARTICLES AND ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES. WE ENCOUNTER ELECTROMAGNECTIC WAVES EVERY DAY. THEY MAKE UP OUR VISIBLE LIGHT, RADIO AND TELEVISION WAVES, ULTRA VIOLET (UV), AND MICROWAVES WITH A LARGE SPECTRUM OF ENERGIES. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

6. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU WE ARE IMMERSED IN A SEA OF IONIZING RADIATION THAT PENETRATES THE BIOSPHERE, THE INNERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH, AND THE WHOLE UNIVERSE. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

7. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU AS ANY MAMMAL SPECIES, HUMAN SPECIES DEVELOPED UNDER IONIZING RADIATION ENVIRONMENT. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

8. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU WHEN LIFE STARTED ON EARTH ABOUT 3.9 BILLIONS YEARS AGO, THE LEVEL OF RADIATION WAS SOME FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN TODAY. LIVING ORGANISMS ADJUSTED TO IT, AS THEY DID TO ALL OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

9. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE ADJUSTMENT TOOK TWO FROMS: ONE USED IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ORGANISMS, AS IS DEMONSTRATED BY THE UBIQUITOUS PHENOMENON OF RADIATION HORMESIS. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

10. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE SECOND INVOLVED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS PROTECTING THE ORGANISM AGAINST THE NOXIOUS EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION Karam P. A. and Leslie S. A. (1999) Calculations of background beta-gamma radiation dose through geologic time. Health Physics77(6), 662-667. Calabrese E. J. and Baldwin L. A. (2000) Radiation hormesis: its historical foundations as a biological hypothesis. Human & Experimental Toxicology19(1), 41-75. Calabrese E. J. and Baldwin L. A. (2001) Special Issue: Scientific Foundations of Hormesis. Critical Reviews in Toxicology31(4&5), 347-695. Jaworowski Z. (1995) Stimulating effects of ionizing radiation: New issue for regulatory policy. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology22, 172-179. Jaworowski Z. (1999) Radiation risk and ethics. Physics Today52(9), 24-29. Luckey T. D. (1991)Radiation Hormesis. CRC. Pollycove M. and Feinendegen L. E. (2001) Biologic responses to low doses of ionizing radiation: detriment versus hormesis. Part 2. Dose responses of organisms. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine42(9), 26N-32N. Planel H., Soleilhavoup J. P., Tixador R., Richoilley G., Conter A., Croute F., Caratero C., and Gaubin Y. (1987) Influence on cell proliferation of background radiation or exposure to very low, chronic gamma radiation. Health Physics52(5), 571-578. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

11. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU AT THE DAWN OF LIFE THE LEVEL OF OXYGEN IN THE ATMOSPHERE WAS EXTREMELY LOW. THE DRAMATIC RISE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN ABOUT 2.3 BILLION YEARS AGO WAS CAUSED BY A MASS BLOOMING OF CYANOBACTERIA, INDUCED BY A CHANGE FROM AN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATE INTO A WARM ONE. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

12. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE CHANGE FROM ANOXIC INTO OXIC CONDITIONS WAS PROBABLY THE GREATEST CATASTROPHE IN THE HISTORY OF LIFE, SINCE THE OXYGEN WAS A DEADLY POISON FOR THE ANAEROBIC ORGANISMS THAT HAD DOMINATED EARTH BEFORE THIS EVENT Bekker A., Holland H. D., Wang P.-L., Rumble D. I., Stein H. J., Hannah J. L., Coetzee L. L., and Beukes N. J. (2004) Dating the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Nature427(8 January, 2004), 117-120 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

13. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT ORGANISMS DEVELOPED EXTREMELY EFFICIENT DEFENCES AGAINST REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS), THE MAIN CULPRITS IN RADIATION DAMAGE TO DNA, ALONG WITH SIMILAR DEFENCES — PROBABLY DEVELOPPED EARLIER —AGAINST DAMAGING EFFECTS OF THERMAL INSTABILITY OF MOLECULES AND ENZYMATIC PROCESSES. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

14. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU MOST OF THE ANAEROBIC SPECIES THAT DID NOT ADJUST TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT DIED OUT, WITH THE FEW THAT SURVIVED THE CATACLYSM HIDING IN OXYGEN FREE NICHES. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

15. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THOSE THAT ADJUSTED ARE EXPOSED TO AN ENORMOUS STREAM OF METABOLIC ROS FORMED IN EACH CELL, AT A RATE OF ABOUT 3 x 1016 PER CELL PER YEAR. THIS STREAM, TOGETHER WITH THERMAL AND ENZYMATIC EFFECTS, CAUSES ABOUT 70 MILLION SPONTANEOUS DNA DAMAGES PER YEAR IN EACH MAMMALIAN CELL Sen K., Sies H., and Baeurle P. E. (2000) Redox Regulation of Gene Expression. Academic Press. Billen D. (1994) Spontaneous DNA damage and its significance for the "negligible dose" controversy in radiation protection. BELLE Newsletter3(1), 8-11. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

16. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU ONLY IF ARMED WITH A POWERFUL DEFENSE SYSTEM COULD LIVING ORGANISMS SURVIVE SUCH A HIGH RATE OF NATURAL DNA DAMAGE. EXISTANT OXYPHILIC ORGANISMS OBTAINED THE SOPHISTICATED PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS AGAINST IONIZING RADIATION GRATIS, AS A SIDE PRODUCT OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE TOXICITY OF OXYGEN AND AGAINST NOXIOUS THERMAL AND ENZYMATIC EFFECTS WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

17. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL TENET OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY THAT SPECIES ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND ARE AT THEIR BEST WHEN EXPOSED TO CONDITIONS WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGES IN THAT ENVIRONMENT WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

18. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THERE IS CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE THAT EXPOSURE TO LOW LEVEL RADIATION IS NECESSARY FOR LIFE AND HEALTH. THIS IS NOT SURPRISING. THE HUMAN RACE – INDEED, ALL LIFE ON EARTH, HAS EVOLVED IN THE PRESENCE OF RADIATION, THE LEVEL OF WHICH HAS BEEN HIGHER IN THE PAST THAN IT IS TODAY WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

19. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THIS IS TRUE OF EXPOSURE TO MOST SUBSTANCES THAT ARE USUALLY REGARDED AS TOXIC, SUCH AS HEAVY METALS AND ARSENIC, AS FOLLOWS: TOO LITTLE (below A) IS HARMFUL, e.g. TRACE OF ELEMENT DEFICIENCIES; SMALL INCREASES ABOVE NORMAL (between A and B) ARE OFTEN BENEFICIALS; LARGE INCREASES (above B) ARE HARMFUL, “THE DOSE MAKES POISON.” A B dose WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

20. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THESE EFFECTS OCCUR ALSO WITH OXYGEN, SUNLIGHT AND MANY OTHER FAMILIAR AGENTS. THE FIRST TWO EFFECTS CONSTITUTE A PHENOMENON CALLED “HORMESIS”. EVIDENTLY, THIS APPLIES TO NATURALLY-OCCURING BACKGROUND RADIATION, WHICH RANGES AROUND THE WORLD FROM LESS THAN 1 mSv/y TO ABOUT 150 mSv/y. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

21. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU RADIATION HORMESIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED EXPERIMENTALLY IN CELLS FROM VIRTUALLY ALL TYPES OF ORGANISMS, IN WHOLE PLANTS AND ANIMALS SPECIES OTHER THAN HUMAN, AND IN HUMAN CELLS. EXPERIMENTS WITH IRRADIATION OF ANIMALS SUGGEST THAT THE MECHANISM OF THE EFFECT IS THE INDUCTION OR ACTIVATION OF CELLULAR PROTECTIVE CAPACITY, ADDITIONAL TO THAT WHICH EXISTS NORMALLY TO PROTECT AGAINST DAMAGE FROM ALL CAUSES. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

22. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THIS “ADAPTIVE RESPONSE” TO RADIATION INVOLVES PREVENTION, REPAIR AND REMOVAL OF DAMAGE. IT REDUCES THE EFFECTS OF DAMAGE FROM OTHER CAUSES, AS WELL AS FROM RADIATION. AT AROUND 150 mSv IN ANIMALS, THERE APPEARS TO BE A TRANSITION – NOT A STEP CHANGE – FROM NET BENEFIT TO NET HARM WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

23. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE OCCURRENCE OF HORMESIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS TO ESTABLISH THAT LOW LEVELS OF RADIATION ARE HARMLESS. RADIATION HORMESIS IS A MATTER THAT THE MEDICAL PROFESSION MIGHT WISH TO EXPLOIT. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

24. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU IN JAPAN, CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCERS, INCLUDING NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA, USING WHOLE-BODY OR HALF-BODY IRRADIATIONS – TYPICALLY 100 mSv EACH TIME, THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR FIVE WEEKS WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

25. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU 1 Average and Maximum annual background absorbed doses (mGy/yr) to the inhabitants of some countries (blue) and for areas with high levels of natural radiation (red). (Used with permission of Radiation Research Foundation, Kyoto, Japan). WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

26. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE ABSORBED DOSE RATE IN SOME HIGH BACKGROUND RADIATION AREAS OF RAMSAR IS APPROXIMATELY 55-200 TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT OF A NORMAL BACKGROUND RADIATION AREAS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT CURRENT LEVELS OF IONIZING RADIATION CAUSE 3-8% OF ALLA CANCERS. IF THIS ESTIMATION WERE TRUE, ALL OF THE INHABITANTS OF SUCH AREA WITH EXTRAORDINARY ELEVATED LEVELS OF NATURAL RADIATION WOULD HAVE DIED OF A CANCER. 1 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

27. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE MAJORITY OF THE INHABITANTS OF HBRAs OF RAMSAR LIVED THERE FOR MANY GENERATIONS. A RESEARCH WAS PERFORMED TO ASSESS WHETHER THEY DEVELOPED A RADIOADAPTATIVE RESPONSE TO HIGH LEVELS OF NATURAL RADIATION. 1 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

28. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE RADIOADAPTIVE RESPONSE MAY BE DEFINED AS THE INDUCTION OF DOUBLE-STRAND BREAK REPAIR BY SMALL DOSES OF RADIATION. 1 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

29. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU DESPITE THE FACT THAT MOLECULAR MECHANISMS BEHIND THE RADIOADAPTATIVE RESPONSE ARE STILL NOT KNOWN CLEARLY, EVIDENCE INDICATE THE EXISTENCE OF A FASTER AND ENHANCED REPAIR OF DNA DOUBLE-STRAND BREAKS IN ADAPTED CELLS 1 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

30. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE RESULTS OBTAINED INDICATED 56% FEWER CHROMOSOME ABERRATIONS IN THE INHABITANTS OF HBRAs COMPARED TO THE RESIDENTS OF A NEIGHBORING NORMAL BACKGROUND RADIATION AREA 1 HBRA : high background radiation areas Ikushima, T., and Mortazavi, S. M. J. Radioadaptive response: its variability in cultured human lymphocytes, Proceedings of the International Meeting on Biological Effects of Low Dose Radiation, Cork, Ireland, 81-86, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000. Mortazavi, S.M.J, Ghiassi Nejad, M., and Beitollahi, M. Very High Background Radiation Areas (VHBRAs) of Ramsar: Do we need any Regulations to Protect the Inhabitants? Proceedings of the 34th midyear meeting, Radiation Safety and ALARA Considerations for the 21st Century, California, USA, 177-182, 2001 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

31. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THIS CYTOGENETICAL STUDIES, IT CAN BE PREDICTED THAT THERE IS NO INCREASED RISK OF CANCER OF THE INHABITANTS OF RAMSAR’S AERAS. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE CANCER RISK IN RESIDENTS OF YANGJANG, CHINA AND KERALA, INDIA, COULD NOT SHOW ANY INCREASED RISK OF CANCER COMPARED TO RESIDENTS OF CONTROL AREAS. 1 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

32. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT CURRENT ESTIMATIONS REGARDING INCREASED CANCER RISK FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO LOW LEVEL OR NATURAL RADIATION ARE NOT VALID. 1 S. M. J. Mortazavi, M. Ghiassi-nejad, , P.A. Karam, T. Ikushima A. Niroomand-rad, and J. R. Cameron (2006) “Cancer Incidence in Areas with Elevated Levels of Natural Radiation” IJLR, 2006, 2, 1&2 pp20-27 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

33. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU FURTHERMORE AS THESE RESULTS SHOWED THE INDUCTION OF RADIOADAPTIVE RESPONSE IN THE INHABITANTS OF HBRAs, IT CAN BE CLAIMED THAT THE LACK OF HARMFUL EFFECTS IS POSSIBLY DUE TO THE ENHANCED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REPAIR CAPACITY OF THE LIVING CELLS OT THE INHABITANTS OF HBRAs 1 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

34. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU DNA CELL REPAIR CAPACITY IS HIGH ABOVE THE CURRENT DOSE LIMIT FOR GENERAL POPULATION OF 1 mSv per year WHICH CORRESPONDS TO ABOUT 2 DNA DAMAGES PER CELL PER YEAR (Billen, 1994; Stewart, 1999), OUT OF ABOUT 70 MILLION NATURAL ONES. 1 ICRP. (1990) 1990 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Pergamon Press. Billen D. (1994) Spontaneous DNA damage and its significance for the "negligible dose" controversy in radiation protection. BELLE Newsletter3(1), 8-11. WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

35. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE “PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE”, REDUCING THE EXPOSURES EVER LOWER, AND AT ANY COSTS, PROVED TO BE NOT “CAUTIONARY” AT ALL. IT HAS LED TO UNACCEPTABLE SOCIAL PENALTIES, AS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CHERNOBYL CATASTROPHE. 1 WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

36. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU THE ONLY REASONS THAT FOR ANYONE TO CONSIDER THAT THERE ARE RISKS FROM EXPOSURE TO LOWER LEVELS OF RADIATION IS THAT, FOR THE PRACTICE OF RADIATION PROTECTION, ICRP RECOMMENDS THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE RISK IS PROPORTIONAL TO DOSE WITHOUT A THRESHOLD – THE SO-CALLED “LINEAR NO-THRESHOLD (LNT) HYPOTHESIS” WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

37. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU RISKS FROM DOSES UP TO AT LEAST 150 mSv IN A YEAR ARE NON-EXISTENT. WHY THEN DO WE EVEN CONSIDER PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM DOSES THAT ARE LESS THAN ONE mSv? WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012

38. Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ? Professor André MAÏSSEU MERCI POUR VOTRE ATTENTION WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERSRoma, April 2012