Effects of low doses of gamma radiation on the human body

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of additional cases of malignant neoplasms (MN) in a comparative aspect between the settlement living next to a radioactive waste disposal facility (RWDF) and the indicators of an environmentally clean area of the same territorial unit (region). Evaluation of radiation situation on the residential territory adjacent to the RAW disposal facility in settlement 1, and in settlement 2 (comparison settlement), as well as interpretation of the obtained data was performed in strict compliance with the requirements of regulatory documents specifying requirements to the research object. When performing measurements, the methodology described in the regulatory documents establishing these rules was used: MU 2.6.1.2398-08 "Radiation Monitoring and Sanitary-Epidemiological Assessment of Land Plots for Construction of Residential Buildings, Public and Industrial Buildings with Respect to Radiation Safety". The residents of the settlement 1 were found to be exposed to 3.7 mSv/year, i.e. 54.2% more than the average whole-year exposure dose received by the residents of the settlement 1 from natural background (2.4 mSv/year), which results in excessive risk of MHC development compared to the ecologically clean region. This indicates that excessive risk of MNS can occur even in conditions of radiation background within the considered safe dose of not more than 5 mSv/year. However, this risk is much lower than that from high doses of radiation. This makes it urgent to search for solutions that would allow implementation of the recommendations of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Russia regarding reduction of total radiation dose to 1 mSv per year or to develop measures allowing to neutralize harmful effects of radiation exposure on the human body.