Title: Experimental studies on the biological effects of low-dose-rate and low-dose radiation

Authors: Yoichi Oghiso, Satoshi Tanaka, Ignacia B. Tanaka III, Fumiaki Sato

Addresses: Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 1–7 Ienomae, Obuchi, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori 039–3212, Japan. ' Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 1–7 Ienomae, Obuchi, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori 039–3212, Japan. ' Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 1–7 Ienomae, Obuchi, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori 039–3212, Japan. ' Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 1–7 Ienomae, Obuchi, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori 039–3212, Japan

Abstract: A lifespan study using a total of 4000 adult Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) mice indicated that continuous gamma-ray exposures of both females and males for approximately 400 days at a dose rate of 20 mGy/day induced significant life shortening, mainly due to early neoplastic death, but no significant differences were found after exposure at a dose rate of 0.05 mGy/day as compared to nonexposed controls. Based on these results, we are working on several research projects on the biological effects of low-dose-rate and low-dose radiation exposures in mice to assess the risk of genetic effects, and to make clear the cellular and molecular mechanisms for the biological consequences, such as cancers and noncancer diseases, of the continuous low-dose-rate radiation exposures.

Keywords: low dose rate; low radiation; continuous exposure; lifespan; carcinogenesis; mice; biological effects; cancer; diseases; cellular mechanisms; molecular mechanisms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2008.018818

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2008 Vol.5 No.1, pp.55 - 59

Published online: 18 Jun 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article