«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)
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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?
WORLD
COUNCILJ.
OF Calabrese
NUCLEAR WORKERS vol81, N°4, April 2007
Roma, April 2012
Edward
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 Physics 77(6), 662-667.
Calabrese E. J. and Baldwin L. A. (2000) Radiation hormesis: its historical foundations as a biological
hypothesis. Human & Experimental Toxicology 19(1), 41-75.
Calabrese E. J. and Baldwin L. A. (2001) Special Issue: Scientific Foundations of Hormesis. Critical Reviews in
Toxicology 31(4&5), 347-695.
Jaworowski Z. (1995) Stimulating effects of ionizing radiation: New issue for regulatory policy. Regulatory
Toxicology and Pharmacology 22, 172-179.
Jaworowski Z. (1999) Radiation risk and ethics. Physics Today 52(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 Medicine 42(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 Physics 52(5), 571-578.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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. Nature 427(8 January, 2004), 117-120
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 Newsletter 3(1), 8-11.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
dose
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
B
Roma, April 2012
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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 NATURALLYOCCURING BACKGROUND RADIATION, WHICH
RANGES AROUND THE WORLD FROM LESS
THAN 1 mSv/y TO ABOUT 150 mSv/y.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
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.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
PERFORMED TO ASSESS
WHETHER THEY
DEVELOPED A RADIOADAPTATIVE
RESPONSE TO HIGH LEVELS OF NATURAL
RADIATION.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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-STRAND1BREAK REPAIR BY
SMALL DOSES OF RADIATION.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
INDICATE THE EXISTENCE OF A FASTER
AND ENHANCED REPAIR OF DNA
DOUBLE-STRAND BREAKS IN ADAPTED
CELLS
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
BACKGROUND RADIATION AREA
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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
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.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
LOW LEVEL OR NATURAL RADIATION ARE
NOT VALID.
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 WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
HARMFUL EFFECTS IS POSSIBLY DUE TO THE
ENHANCED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REPAIR
CAPACITY OF THE LIVING CELLS OT THE
INHABITANTS OF HBRAs
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
DAMAGES PER CELL PER YEAR (Billen,
1994; Stewart, 1999), OUT OF ABOUT 70
MILLION NATURAL ONES.
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 Newsletter 3(1), 8-11.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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
1
UNACCEPTABLE SOCIAL PENALTIES, AS
CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE CHERNOBYL
CATASTROPHE.
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 NOTHRESHOLD (LNT) HYPOTHESIS”
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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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 NONEXISTENT. WHY THEN DO WE EVEN
CONSIDER PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM
DOSES THAT ARE LESS THAN
ONE mSv?
WORLD COUNCIL OF NUCLEAR WORKERS
Roma, April 2012
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Is there a need for protection against exposure at low levels of ionizing radiations ?
Professor André MAÏSSEU
MERCI
POUR VOTRE ATTENTION
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Roma, April 2012
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