Human Exposures from Man-Made Radiations

Abstract

With increasing the uses of atomic energy and ionizations, the increasing human exposures from man-made radiations have aggravated the possibility of the occational induction of malignant diseases in the exposed population. In order to aid in developing a better understanding of the mechanism of radiation damage and to guide in the establishment of safe levels of exposure to ionizing radiations, it is importance to know the human exposure on a population scale as well as an individual exposure.
Up to date, some data on the human exposure are available from medical exposure, occupational exposures, environmental contamination from weapon fallout, nuclear weapon exposures at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, radiation accidents, and other sources such as exposures in high-flying aircraft, space travel, etc. This paper describes the human experience with man-made sources of ionizing radiation, and reviews the population doses from medical and occupational exposures in Japan. Also the present review summarizes the studies of the dose estimations of primary radiations from atomic bombs and secondary radiations from neutron-induced radioactivities and of organ or tissue doses concerning on genetic effect and carcinogenetic effects of primary gamma-rays and neutrons.