Spontaneous DNA Damage and Its Significance for the 'Negligible Dose' Controversy in Radiation Protection

摘要

One of the crucial problems in radiation protection is the reality of the negligible dose or de minimus concept (1-4). This issue of a "practical zero" and its resolution is central to our understanding of the controversy concerning the existence of a "safe" dose in radiological health. However, for very low levels of environmental mutagens and carcinogens including low doses of low-LET radiations (less than 1 cGy or 1 rad), spontaneous or endogenous DNA damage may have an increasing impact on the biological consequences of the induced cellular response. It is this issue that is addressed in this communication.