| Title: |
The risk of childhood cancer from low doses of ionising radiation received in utero |
| Authors: |
Wakeford, Richard; Doll, Richard; Bithell, John F |
| Source: |
Wakeford, R, Doll, R & Bithell, J F 1997, The risk of childhood cancer from low doses of ionising radiation received in utero. in Low doses of ionizing radiation : Biological effects and regulatory control. vol. IAEA-TECDOC--976, International Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 391-394, Low Doses of Ionizing Radiation: Biological Effects and Regulatory Control, Seville, Spain, 17/11/97. < http://www.iaea.org/inis/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/29/017/29017388.pdf?r=1 > |
| Publisher Information: |
International Atomic Energy Agency |
| Publication Year: |
1997 |
| Collection: |
The University of Manchester: Research Explorer - Publications |
| Subject Terms: |
IAEA-TECDOC--976 |
| Description: |
Radiological protection is based upon the assumption that any additional exposure to ionising radiation leads to an increased risk of stochastic adverse health effects. The validity of this assumption is supported by the epidemiological association between childhood cancer and X-ray exposure of the fetus in utero for diagnostic purposes. Evidence for a direct causal interpretation of this association is compelling: the association has high statistical significance, it is consistent across many case-control studies carried out worldwide, and an appropriate dose-response relationship is indicated. Evidence against bias and confounding as alternative explanations is strong. Nonetheless, objections to causality have been raised. Four grounds for controversy are examined in detail, with the conclusion that they do not provide persuasive evidence against a cause and effect relationship. We conclude that acute doses of the order of 10 mGy received by the fetus in utero cause a subsequent increase in the risk of cancer in childhood, and that, in these circumstances, the excess absolute risk coefficient for childhood cancer incidence is 6-12% per Gy |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| Availability: |
https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/281445d4-24a9-4595-b4a7-8502e0d4d00e; http://www.iaea.org/inis/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/29/017/29017388.pdf?r=1 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.D4EBA19 |
| Database: |
BASE |