Radiation Carcinogenesis. Introductory Remarks

Summary

Nuclear energy is expected to provide a large fraction of the future electrical energy requirements of the world. The projected health risk of nuclear energy, compared to other electrical energy sources, is currently of much concern. The health risk concerning lung cancer is particularly important. Uranium miners have an excess of lung cancer attributed to cigarette smoking and inhalation of uranium mine air contaminants, including radon and its alpha-emitting decay products and uranium ore dust. Animal studies reported at this symposium confirmed that inhalation of radon and its daughter products alone may cause lung cancer. Experiments to evaluate the role of other uranium air contaminants and cigarette smoking in the carcinogenic process are now in progress. Future nuclear reactor fuels will contain several other alpha-emitting radionuclides. Although these radionuclides have not yet been shown to be carcinogenic in people, papers in this symposium report that inhalation of alpha-emitting radionuclides (²³⁹Pu, ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴⁴Am, ²⁴¹Am, and ²¹⁰Pu) cause dose-related increased incidence of lung cancer in experimental animals. These studies are providing data necessary to assess the risk of lung cancer related to nuclear energy and to evaluate the role of radiation related to the overall lung cancer related health problem.