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Global Translational Medicine Low-dose radiation

Karachai in 1967 led to resident exposures. The East Urals of acute exposure than chronic ones. Later, the same
radioactive trace (EURT) cohort includes people exposed scientists started to claim similar risks for cancer and other
following the Kyshtym accident. The difference between diseases in the Techa River, MPA, and EURT cohorts as
the contaminations in the Urals and Chernobyl is that the well as atomic bomb survivors. 18-20 Analogously, an earlier
latter was a technogenic catastrophe; however, the former study found a reduction in cancer mortality in the EURT
15
was radioactive contamination tolerated for 70 years, cohort compared with the general population. A review
with several accidents in between. For inside observers, confirmed the same level of both cancer and all-cause
13
the party leadership prepared an end to the communist mortality in the EURT cohort and control. In a later
regime since the mid-1980s at the latest to privatize state report on the same cohort, the authors avoided direct
property, which was accomplished in the early 1990s. The comparisons but fitted the data into a linear model. The
most efficient tools to destabilize the Soviet society were configuration of the dose–response curves shown in this
as follows: paper is inconclusive; nonetheless, the authors claimed
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(A) Shortage of consumer goods (the word “deficit” is a high cancer risk in the EURT cohort. An unofficial
used in Russian). The situation was somewhat better directive was apparently behind this ideological shift
in Moscow and certain Soviet republics in 1986 – noticed in 2005 – 2007 (Table 1). Trimming of statistics
1990. This was also a disguised inflation: salaries and has been unusual in the former SU. Potential motives
22
prices in state-owned shops were kept stable; however, have been discussed previously: financing, international
shops were empty, while prices at markets were much help after the Chernobyl accident, publication pressure,
higher. This is explained by market economics. Shops stirring antinuclear protests in other countries, and the
would never be empty if prices were set by supply and strangulation of atomic energy aimed at boosting fossil
demand. Waiting hours in queues is a cost. fuel prices. Some papers about radioactive contaminations
(B) The Chernobyl accident contributed to the in the former SU have common features: large volume,
destabilization; however, it would be speculation to plentiful details, and mathematical computations but no
claim that there was an intention. At least, negligence clear insight into medical consequences. Cancer-related
and disregard for written instructions were among the aspects of the problem have been reviewed previously.
1,2
causes of the disaster. The number of control rods Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CeVD)
6-8
in the reactor was only half the minimum required and their supposed associations with low-dose low-rate
for safe operation. An emergency power system radiation exposure are discussed below.
9
had been shut off, which is forbidden during online
operation. Purportedly, this was done to conduct an 3. Natural radiation background and Dose
10
experiment. The weightiest argument against NPPs and Dose-rate Effectiveness Factor (DDREF)
9,11
is that they are potential targets in an armed conflict, Enhanced risks of cardiovascular diseases were claimed for
with radiation-related environmental consequences. the Chernobyl, MPA, Techa River, and EURT populations,
Therefore, military threats are arguments against the where the average doses were comparable with those
use of nuclear power for electricity production, thus from the natural radiation background. In many densely
boosting fossil fuel prices. The Chernobyl accident populated areas in the world, the dose rates from the
was exploited for the same purpose. 3 natural background are 10 – 100-fold higher than the
(C) The anti-alcohol campaign (1985 – 1989), which global average (2.4 mSv/year) with no health risks reliably
ended in failure, contributed to crime and the use proven. The doses have been protracted over decades:
35
of alcohol surrogates and narcotic drugs. After the studied MPA workers were first employed in 1948 – 1982.
campaign, drunkenness, which anesthetized the For example, the mean dose of gamma radiation was
population during the privatization of state property, 0.54 Gy in men and 0.44 Gy among women in the MPA
increased. cohort study, where the incidence of arteriosclerosis in
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2. Dose–response relationships the lower limbs correlated with the radiation dose. The
average doses in the Techa River cohort were 34 – 35 mGy,
In earlier publications by Russian researchers, cancer whereas the follow-up was since the 1950s ; thus, the
33
frequency did not increase in cohorts with average dose rates were compatible with those from the natural
exposures <0.5 Sv or among MPA employees in general. 12-17 background in some populated areas. Apparently, the
The absolute risk of leukemia per 1 Gy and 10000 man- Techa River cohort data do not possess sufficient statistical
years was 3.5-fold smaller in the Techa River cohort than power to determine the dose–response shape. The authors
in atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. acknowledged that the risks for doses ≤0.1 Gy may be
This was reasonably explained by the higher efficiency smaller than those calculated based on the linear model.
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Volume 4 Issue 1 (2025) 57 doi: 10.36922/gtm.7229