The Tolerance Dose and the Prevention of Injuries caused by Ionizing Radiations

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Abstract
Following observations of skin injuries a few months after Roentgen''s discovery and a few yrs. after the use of the first concentrated radio-active prepns., a 20-25 yr. period of severe injuries and deaths to pioneers occurred. Care then led to relative freedom from radiation risks, but the past 25 yrs. have again shown an increase. The epoch of atomic energy suggests that new risks will likely be a general social problem of prime importance. The effects on 3 parts of the human organisms[long dash]skin, blood and blood-forming organs, and sex glands and germ cells[long dash]are considered. Interval in dosage as between barely perceptible redness and serious irreversible lesion is relatively small[long dash]approx. a power of 10. Cumulative action with fractionated dose in equal amts. plotted against time gave parabolic-like curves which were straight lines on double logarithmic paper (charts). Reliability of blood counts with changes in erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes as an indication of radiation risk is stressed even more than photographic, fluoroscopic, and ionization measurements. Blood changes precede sterilization. The genetic effect cannot yet be assessed. The sterilization single dose is considered 300-400 r and is not always accompanied by skin reaction. The author defines "active tolerance dose" and "safety tolerance dose." The action of various "particles" on living cells is shown and also effects with that intensity of ionization normally existing in nature. Re-evaluation of supervision is required; careful scrutinizing of mass miniature radiography, for example, showed that the risk of injury to blood is great. New methods including legislation in the Swedish parliament controlling radiological work and recently a required 6-wk. minimum holiday for radiation workers are discussed.