A team led by Professor Angela McLean from Oxford University has reviewed the evidence on health risks associated with low-level ionizing radiation to inform policy decisions and identify gaps in knowledge. Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, the study clarifies that moderate and high doses of radiation increase the risk of developing certain cancers. For instance, exposure to 100 mSv (millisievert) over a lifetime would lead to one radiation-induced cancer among 100 individuals, compared to 42 cancer cases from other causes. However, the study also highlights uncertainties in distinguishing no extra risk from a small additional risk at low exposure levels. While there’s ongoing research on radiation’s biological effects on DNA and cells, the mechanisms leading to cancer from radiation exposure remain unclear. Despite the risks, the overall health risk from low-level radiation exposure is relatively small when compared to other modern life factors like obesity, smoking, and air pollution.
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