Radiation exposure at low doses (below 100 milligray) or low-dose rates (less than 5 milligray per hour) occurs in a wide range of medical, industrial, military, and commercial settings. The effects of exposure at these levels are not fully understood, but there are long-standing concerns that such exposure could negatively affect human health. Although cancer has been linked to low-dose radiation exposure for decades, there is increasing evidence that low-dose radiation exposure may also be associated with cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, immune dysfunction, and cataracts.

Recent advances in research, new tools, and a coordinated multidisciplinary research program could help fill knowledge gaps about the health impacts of low-dose radiation exposures. This report calls for the development of a U.S. research program to study how low doses of radiation affect cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and other disease risks. Research should also better define the impacts of radiation doses, dose rates, types of radiation, and exposure duration. The report estimates $100 million annually for the next 15 years would be required to conduct epidemiological and biological research, and to establish an infrastructure for research.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPING A LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES
• NUCLEAR AND RADIATION STUDIES BOARD
• Acknowledgments
• Reviewers
• Preface
• Common Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Summary
  • IMPACT OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY LOW-DOSE RADIATION PROGRAM
  • PROPOSED RESEARCH AGENDA PRIORITIES
  • ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1. LOW-DOSE RADIATION EXPOSURES TO THE U.S. POPULATION
  • 1.2. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES
  • 1.3. STUDY TASK AND APPROACH
  • 1.4. REPORT ROADMAP
• 2. Low-Dose Radiation Exposures and Health Effects
  • 2.1. LOW-DOSE RADIATION SOURCES AND EXPOSURES
  • 2.2. CURRENT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ON LOW-DOSE RADIATION HEALTH EFFECTS
  • 2.3. CHAPTER SUMMARY AND FINDING
• 3. Scientific Basis for Radiation Protection
  • 3.1. THE RADIATION PROTECTION FRAMEWORK
  • 3.2. AGENCIES WITH RADIATION PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
  • 3.3. SCIENCE BEHIND RADIATION PROTECTION
  • 3.4. POTENTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM
  • 3.5. CHAPTER SUMMARY AND FINDINGS
• 4. Status of Low-Dose Radiation Research
  • 4.1. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
  • 4.2. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH IN NATIONAL LABORATORIES
  • 4.3. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH IN UNIVERSITIES
  • 4.4. SUPPORT FOR LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH BY OTHER U.S. ENTITIES
  • 4.5. SUPPORT FOR LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH INTERNATIONALLY
  • 4.6. CHAPTER SUMMARY
• 5. Prioritized Research Agenda
  • 5.1. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH CHALLENGES AND OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH PRIORITIES
  • 5.2. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES
  • 5.3. BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES
  • 5.4. RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES
  • 5.5. ESTIMATED TIMELINE AND COSTS
  • 5.6. COMPARISON OF THE COMMITTEE-RECOMMENDED RESEARCH AGENDA TO THOSE OF OTHER ENTITIES
  • 5.7. CHAPTER SUMMARY, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATION
• 6. Essential Components of the Low-Dose Radiation Program
  • 6.1. PROGRAMMATIC COMMITMENT
  • 6.2. INDEPENDENT ADVICE AND EVALUATION
  • 6.3. TRANSPARENCY
  • 6.4. A PRIORITIZED STRATEGIC RESEARCH AGENDA
  • 6.5. RESEARCH-SPONSORSHIP MECHANISMS
  • 6.6. TRAINING
  • 6.7. ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS
  • 6.8. COORDINATION
  • 6.9. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE LOW-DOSE PROGRAM
  • 6.10. CHAPTER SUMMARY, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATION
• REFERENCES
• Appendix A. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
• Appendix B. Committee and Staff Biographies
• Appendix C. Information-Gathering Meetings
• Appendix D. Projects Designated by the Department of Energy as “Low-Dose Radiation Projects” Carried Out at National Laboratories (2016–2021)
• Appendix E. Unedited Responses from Radiation Facilities

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Advances in Modern Science to Revitalize Low-Dose Radiation Research in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26434.

Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26434

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