Achievements of radiation research in UNSCEAR 2006 report 2: non-targeted effects, effects on immune system, and radon

Abstract

UNSCEAR 2006 REPORT is composed of two volumes and the second volume deals with non-targeted radiation effects, effects on immune system, and radon. In this symposium I will focus on the trend of research from UNSCEAR 2006 REPORT volume 2 and their future prospects. Today, the biological effect of radiation is believed to be based on energy deposits on nucleus in target cells by radiation. Non-targeted radiation effect is a phenomenon where energy deposits on cellular components other than nucleus or even on neighboring cells can cause mutation or apoptosis. If such a non-targeted radiation effect occurs effectively in vivo, it may induce a paradigm shift in estimating radiation risk at low dose or low dose rate, especially by high LET radiation. As to radiation effect on immune system, new concepts and technologies in basic immunology have been introduced into radiation research. As to radon, systematic review on indoor radon-lung cancer case control studies and pooled analyses will be highlighted.