Insignificant risk at low dose (rate) radiation predicted by cytogenetic studies

INTRODUCTION Effect of low dose radiation on health is an important subject in the field of radiation protection. There are several places in the world where the level of natural radiation is much higher than in other areas. Epidemiological and cytogenetical studies on the people in such areas provide good information about the effect of low dose radiation on health. We performed the cytogenetical study using conventional Giemsa staining and chromosome painting analyses on the residents of the naturally high background radiation area (HBRA) and of the control area in the southern China. In the present report the effect of low dose (rate) radiation on the human body is discussed based on the literature of the cytogenetic studies and our studies on the chromosome aberrations observed in the residents in these areas in China.