BEIR VII: “The very error of the moon .” Othello, Act II

1. BEIR VII: “The very error of the moon.” Othello, Act II Herbert L.Abrams

3. Blast Thermal & Shock Radiation   Initial Nuclear Residual Nuclear Radiation Radiation Nuclear Weapons Effects

4. Thermal Heat Wave A one-second “heat flash” travels at the speed of light: vaporizing, melting, starting fires at a distance.

5. Blast The Wave Travels at Supersonic Speed, Killing People & Destroying Buildings in its Path.

6. RADIATION: The Mystery Nausea, Vomiting, Loss of Appetite, Diarrhea, WBC Drops.

7. Radiation Effects High radiation doses tend to kill cells, while low doses tend to damage the genetic code (DNA). The higher the dose, the sooner the effects of radiation will appear & the higher the probability of death.

8. Radiation Effects • “Radiation Sickness” • 5 Sieverts or Above Marrow Death • 10 Sieverts or Above GI Death • 20 Sieverts or Above Neurologic Death

13. ABCC (47), RERF (75) • Life Span Study: 120,000 • Adult Health Study: 20,000

14. The Cancer Risk From Low Level Radiation

15. Our Committee Report: the 700 page BEIRVII advisory recently issued by the National Research Council. The last previous report on this subject: 1990.

16. The BEIR series of seven reports is widely accepted in many nations as a primary source of radiation risk estimates and protective regulations.

17. The 16 member BEIR VII international Study Committee consisted of scientists & educators with expertise in: • Epidemiology • Radiation Biology • Cancer Biology • Genetics • Radiology • Physics

18. Submissions & Presentations: • University & governmental entities such as the EPA, NRC, DOE • NGO, public interest, activist & industry groups

19. THE ISSUE Higher risk estimates: smaller permissible doses Lower risk: relaxation of protection standards Stakes: $millions vs. health

20. Why “low level” radiation? Are we all exposed?

22. We defined “low level” radiation as a range from near zero up to 100 milliSieverts (mSv). • 30-40 times annual natural background exposure • 10 times that of a CT Scan • 1000 times that of a chest film.

23. Background: radiation from the natural environment represents 82% of human exposure. • Outer space • The Ground • Basic Activities such as eating, drinking & breathing

24. CONTRIBUTION OF MAN-MADE RADIATION SOURCES (18%) RELATIVE TO BACKGROUND RADIATION (82%)

26. Medical & Dental X-Ray Diagnostic Procedures Examinations & Dose Averages 1985-1990 Average Annual Total Medical Exams: 1200 per 1000 1985-1990 Average Annual Total Dental Exams: 400 per 1000 1980 Average Annual Effective Dose Per patient examined: 50 millirem Data Source: Los Alamos, 1995 Photo Credit: Procare4U

27. Effective Doses From Diagnostic X-Ray Procedures Data Source: Los Alamos, 1995

28. Nuclear Medicine Procedures Per Annum • 1985-1990 Average Number of Procedures 26 per 1000 persons • 1982 Average Effective Dose Per Patient 500 millirem Data Source: Los Alamos, 1995

29. Effective Doses Per Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures CSPmedical.com Data Source: Los Alamos, 1995

30. Mechanism of Cancer Induction • Damage to DNA • Single strand breaks • Double strand breaks • Oxidative changes in nucleotide bases • DNA deletions; gene and chromosome damage

31. BEIR VII Committee Conclusions • Linear Non-Threshold model of cancer risk prediction validated • No evidence of a threshold below which no cellular damage occurs

32. Radiation Related Cancer Risk ______ Linear No Threshold Model

33. BEIR VII Committee Conclusions • Significant lifetime excess risks were determined for 12 cancers, including lung, liver, breast, prostate, stomach, colon, thyroid and leukemia

34. Women Radiation related cancer mortality risks for woman averaged 37.5% higher than for menin the solid tumors

35. Excess Cases of Cancer per 100,000 Exposed Persons(Exposed at 30, Attained Age 60) ALL SOLID CANCER

36. Small Children Exposure in infants, as compared to adults, produces 3-4 times the cancer risk. Photo: Stepin.org Female infants have almost double the risk of males.

37. Unlike BEIR V, BEIRVII contained both incidence &mortality figures.

38. At low doses, the risk, though increased, is small, one excess cancer in 100 exposed persons during their lifetime. Mortality, as opposed to incidence, would be about one-half.

39.          Likelihood of Excess Cancer Vs. Cancer Incidence in 100 Unexposed Persons over Lifetime

40. No impact of low levels on heart disease, in contrast to high doses. No definite genetic effects in the offspring of A-bomb survivors.

42. Areas Identified for Further Research: • Adverse genetic impacts of radiation, emphasizing hereditary effects • Health impacts of radiation usage in medical practice • Epidemiology of high risk occupations, persons in key areas of former Soviet Union & atomic bomb survivors

43. Areas Identified for Further Research: • Molecular markers of radiation caused DNA damage • Specific role of radiation in development of cancer (tumors) • Correlation between radiation & conditions such as heart disease & stroke

44. “A star, however willing, • cannot help the moon.” • Chinese proverb