Cardiovascular diseases following admissible levels of occupational radiation exposure

URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-20160523712

High doses of ionising radiation increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. A growing number of epidemiological studies indicate a risk of more frequent cardiovascular diseases as a result of exposure to low LET radiation in moderate doses. Great uncertainty still exists, however, as to the degree of risk.
Little is known about the fundamental biological mechanisms relating to low or moderate dose radiation exposure and what impact these may have on cardiovascular diseases.
The SSK therefore examined the risk of cardiovascular diseases following long-term exposure to low LET radiation (in particular X-rays and gamma radiation) within the range of a few hundred milligray.
According to the SSK, the data available allow an initial comparison of the mortality risks associated with cardiovascular diseases and cancer following exposure to a dose commensurate with the dose limit for an entire working life. Thus, the absolute risk of developing cardiovascular diseases following exposure to a dose of a few hundred milligray may be lower, but still of potentially the same order as the corresponding risk of cancer. The existence of a threshold in the cardiovascular diseases dose-response relationship within a range of a few hundred milligray cannot be ruled out.
Although it remains possible that there is a total absence of risk, when drawing up legal provisions due consideration needs to be given to the potential for an increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases following exposure to radiation doses of a few hundred milligray, for precautionary reasons and in view of scientific uncertainties.
The SSK considers further studies necessary to assess the dose-response progression for cardiovascular diseases following exposure to low and moderate doses of radiation.