A white paper by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to guide the Scientific Committee's future program of work evaluating radiation science for informed decision-making.The document concludes that understanding of the mechanisms of so-called non-targeted and delayed effects is improving and that there is some evidence for differential responses in gene and protein expression for high- and low-dose radiation exposures, but there is a lack of consistency and coherence among reports. There is as yet no indication of a causal association of those phenomena with radiation-related disease.
With regard to immune response and inflammatory reactions, there is a clearer association with disease, but there is no consensus on the impact of radiation exposure, particularly at low doses, on those physiological processes. While the document focuses on mechanisms relevant to carcinogenesis, some of the processes considered may be relevant for tissue reactions, and improved understanding may therefore be helpful for assessing the potential risk of non-cancer diseases at low and protracted exposures.
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