Leukaemia and Ionizing Radiation in Japan An Epidemiological Survey

抄録

Dependence of the recent increase in leukaemia on the levels of environmental radiation has been analysed. Main sources of information were (a) correlation of levels of terrestrial radiation and leukaemia mortality in some districts in Japan, (b) correlation of an increase in diagnostic X-ray procedures and leukaemia mortality in general population, and (c) interrelationship of the number of radiographers and their leukaemia mortality. Neither of them could give clear evidence that leukaemia mortality increased with an increase in radiation doses received by population at large. It seems reasonable to believe that environmental radiation, natural or man-made, though not to be neglected, play a subordinate role in the production of spontaneous leukaemia.