BMJ  2004;328:582 (6 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7439.582

Letter

Ionising radiation in infancy and adult cognitive function

Much research on low dose radiation remains hidden

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Hall et al say that little is known about the effects of low doses of radiation or a possible threshold value, ignoring a large body of scientific evidence.1

Muller said in 1955 that radiation produces permanent changes, mutations, no matter how long or how short a time the total dose was received—more than 99% are harmful, causing some functional impairment.2 A survey by Stewart et al followed in 1958, the first human study documenting cancer and leukaemia in children whose mothers had been exposed to in utero x ray of only 1-2 rad.3 In 1969-70 Gofman presented several studies to congressional committees dealing with low dose issues and authored five books on human health effects, the latest linking at least 50% of cancers and ischaemic heart disease to the primary co-action of medical x rays.4 Recently 15 cancer experts published a review confirming these earlier warnings, indicating there . . . [Full text of this article]

Lynn Howard Ehrle, senior policy analyst (pro bono)

National Association for Public Health Policy, 8888 Mayflower Drive, Plymouth, MI 48170, USA ehrlebird@comcast.net


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Relevant Article

Effect of low doses of ionising radiation in infancy on cognitive function in adulthood: Swedish population based cohort study
Per Hall, Hans-Olov Adami, Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Nancy L Pedersen, Pagona Lagiou, Anders Ekbom, Martin Ingvar, Marie Lundell, and Fredrik Granath
BMJ 2004 328: 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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