The children of parents exposed to atomic bombs : estimates of the genetic doubling dose of radiation for humans

• Published in: American journal of human genetics 1990-06, Vol.46 (6), p.1053-1072
• Main Authors: NEEL, J. V, SCHULL, W. J, AWA, A. A, SATOH, C, KATO, H, OTAKE, M, YOSHIMOTO, Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man; A-BOMB SURVIVORS; ACUTE EXPOSURE; ACUTE IRRADIATION; ANEUPLOIDY; ASIA; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; Biological effects of radiation; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; BODY; CHROMOSOMES; Chromosomes, Human - radiation effects; DISEASES; DOSES; Female; FEMALE GENITALS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENE MUTATIONS; GENES; Genes - radiation effects; GENETIC EFFECTS; GENETIC RADIATION EFFECTS; GONADS; HIROSHIMA; HUMAN POPULATIONS; Humans; IONIZING RADIATIONS; IRRADIATION; JAPAN; Japan - epidemiology; Male; MALE GENITALS; MATHEMATICS; Mutation; MUTATIONS; NAGASAKI; NEOPLASMS; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Nuclear Warfare; NUCLEAR WEAPONS; ORGANS; OVARIES; Ovary - radiation effects; PLOIDY; POPULATIONS; PREGNANCY; Pregnancy Outcome; PROBABILITY; PROGENY; Radiation Dosage; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; RADIATIONS; RADIOINDUCTION; REGRESSION ANALYSIS; Sex Chromosomes - radiation effects; Sex Ratio; STATISTICS; TERATOGENESIS; TESTES; Testis - radiation effects; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Translocation, Genetic - genetics; WARFARE; WEAPONS
• ISSN: 0002-9297; 1537-6605

The data collected in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the past 40 years on the children of survivors of the atomic bombings and on the children of a suitable control population are analyzed on the basis of the newly revised estimates of radiation doses. No statistically significant effects emerge with respect to eight different indicators. Since, however, it may confidently be assumed some mutations were induced, we have taken the data at face value and calculated the minimal gametic doubling doses of acute radiation for the individual indicators at various probability levels. An effort has also been made to calculate the most probable doubling dose for the indicators combined. The latter value is between 1.7 and 2.2 Sv. It is suggested the appropriate figure for chronic radiation would be between 3.4 and 4.5 Sv. These estimates suggest humans are less sensitive to the genetic effects of radiation than has been assumed on the basis of past extrapolations from experiments with mice.