Over 4000 unnecessary cancer deaths are occurring worldwide every day
The scientific community adopted the linear no-threshold (LNT) model for radiation-induced cancers in the 1950s, according to which even the smallest amount of radiation increases cancer risk, though there was no evidence for the model (All data showing increased cancer risk was for high-doses of radiation). In 1980, the radiation hormesis model was proposed (Hormesis with ionizing radiation, Book by T.D. Luckey, CRC Press., Boca Raton, Fla., 1980.) suggesting low-dose radiation should be utilized to reduce cancers. However, low-dose radiation was not studied for cancer reduction because of the fears based on the LNT model. Since that time, more and more evidence has accumulated against the LNT model and for radiation hormesis. Even the atomic bomb survivor data, recognized widely as the most important data, following the 2012 update to the data, became inconsistent with the LNT model but consistent with radiation hormesis. Though many publications have claimed low-dose radiation causes cancers, major flaws have been identified in such publications negating or raising major doubts about their conclusions. Thus, the conclusion from all the valid evidence is that low-dose radiation would be able to reduce cancers by a considerable amount. However, we are not utilizing it for reducing cancers.
Figure legend:
LNT model Prediction - Using BEIR VII Report (NRC, 2006)
Taiwan - Residents of radio-contaminated apartments in Taiwan (Hwang, 2006)
NSWS - Radiation workers in Nuclear Shipyard Worker Study (Sponsler, 2005)
British Radiologists - British Radiologists who entered service during the period 1955-1979 (Berrington, 2001)
Mayak - Evacuated residents of villages near Mayak Nulcear Weapons Facility (Kostyuchenko, 1994)
Note: Click here for an explanation of the plotted data points
As seen above, cancer reduction of ~30% has been observed following low-dose radiation exposures. Let us assume conservatively that 20% reduction can be achieved by the study and use of low-dose radiation.
Global death toll due to cancer - 8.2 million per year (2012)
Number of cancer deaths per day (8,200,000/365.25) = 22,450
Cancer deaths prevented per day by use of low-dose radiation (20% of 22,450)= 4,490
Thus, over 4,000 unnecessary cancer deaths are possibly occurring worldwide every day - these deaths likely would not occur if the LNT model had been rejected in the 1980s and radiation hormesis had been studied and utilized.