The possibility of suffering adverse health effects as a result of exposure to radiation is a cause for concern — and indeed, for outright fear — for many people. It is often thought that little is known about the health effects of radiation and that exposure to even low doses of radiation can be disastrous; yet neither of these beliefs is true. Misconceptions about radiation and health can cause unnecessary anxiety and may even prompt some people to make unwise decisions, such as forgoing beneficial medical procedures that involve radiation.

This report by the American Council on Science and Health summarizes the scientific facts about the health effects of low-level radiation. The principal source of information for this booklet was a technical manuscript entitled “The Effects of Low-Level Radiation Exposure: A Review,” written by Dr. P. Andrew Karam of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Additional information sources are listed at the end of this report.

BELOW IS A TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE FULL REPORT, WHICH CAN BE DOWNLOADED FOR FREE AT THE RIGHT MARGIN.

Executive Summary

Introduction

What Is Radiation?

How Radiation Is Measured

Sources of Radiation

Society’s Use of Radiation

Health Effects of Radiation

Dose-Response Models for Radiation and Cancer Risk
The linear no-threshold model
The threshold model
The hormesis model
Uses and comparisons of the models
Recent developments

Other Potential Effects
Multifactorial diseases
Reproductive effects

Recent and Future Research
Radiologists and radiology technologists
Airline crew members
People living in areas with high background radiation

Conclusions

Appendix: Radiation Measurement

Suggestions for Further Reading

See: ACSH's short version of the report, called What's the Story? The Health Effects of Low-Level Radiation  

Also see: ACSH's Jeff Stier on the death of anti-nuclear activist Jay Gould.