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Background radiation is from naturally radioactive materials and cosmic radiation from space. [5] People are exposed to this radiation from the environment continuously, with an annual dose of about 3 mSv. [5] Radon gas is a radioactive chemical element that is the largest source of background radiation, about 2mSv per year. [17]
The consequences of overdiagnosis and overtreatment resulting from cancer screening can lead to a decline in quality of life, due to the adverse effects of unnecessary medication and hospitalization. [10] [12] [13] The accuracy of a cancer screening test relies on its sensitivity, and low sensitivity screening tests can overlook cancers. [10]
Radiation hormesis is the conjecture that a low level of ionizing radiation (i.e., near the level of Earth's natural background radiation) helps "immunize" cells against DNA damage from other causes (such as free radicals or larger doses of ionizing radiation), and decreases the risk of cancer. The theory proposes that such low levels activate ...
“New and more inclusive science about breast cancer in people younger than 50 has enabled us to expand our prior recommendation and encourage all women to get screened in their 40s,” the Task ...
Radiation exposure can be managed by a combination of these factors: Time: Reducing the time of an exposure reduces the effective dose proportionally. An example of reducing radiation doses by reducing the time of exposures might be improving operator training to reduce the time they take to handle a radioactive source.
This was based on radiation exposure information on 93% of the population living within five miles of the nuclear plant - nearly 36,000 people, gathered in door-to-door surveys shortly after the accident. [25] The study found slight increases in cancer and mortality rates but "no consistent evidence" of causation by TMI. [24]
The plutonium experiments were not isolated events. [2] During this time, cancer researchers were attempting to discover whether certain radioactive elements might be useful to treat cancer. [2] Recent studies on radium, polonium, and uranium proved foundational to the study of Pu toxicity. For example, polonium (another alpha emitter) research ...
A study of radiation risk from mammography concluded that for women 40 years of age and older, the risk of radiation-induced breast cancer was minuscule, particularly compared with the potential benefit of mammographic screening, with a benefit-to-risk ratio of 48.5 lives saved for each life lost due to radiation exposure. [41]