Frontiers of Dose-rate and Inverse Dose-rate Effects: Challenge to Classical Paradigm by Using New Technologies

Abstract

Biological effects of ionizing radiation often decrease when dose rates are decreased. This phenomenon is well known as a "dose-rate effect". In addition, "Inverse dose-rate effect", the phenomenon that biological effect increases with a decreasing dose rate, is reported for cells exposed to particle radiations. Although the intensive work has been done, underlying mechanisms of these classical paradigms remain to be clarified. Recently, various hyper-sensitive detection system, transgenic animals and cells, and new irradiation facilities are developed. A combination of these novel systems enables us to get insight of the characteristic biological phenomenon of low dose-rate radiation. In this workshop, we summarize these recent approaches, and will discuss application of new findings to social requirements such as radiotherapy and risk assessment.