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Thresholds In Radiobiology, Robert Katz, Werner Hofmann
Thresholds In Radiobiology, Robert Katz, Werner Hofmann
Robert Katz Publications
Interpretations of radiation effects frequently call upon the word “threshold.” In this letter we wish to explore the meaning of this word, its relationship to the fundamental character of radiation effects, and to the question of perception. We make no distinction between “stochastic effects” and “non-stochastic effects” (ICRU 1971, ICRP 1977). As conceived here, all interactions of radiation with matter are probabilistic. At the cellular or molecular level, where most radiation effects originate, the statistical nature of ionization and excitation events gives rise to considerable fluctuation in the number of these primary events in sensitive sites. Whatever the array of …
Biological Effects Of Low Doses Of Ionizing Radiations: Particle Tracks In Radiobiology, Robert Katz, Werner Hofmann
Biological Effects Of Low Doses Of Ionizing Radiations: Particle Tracks In Radiobiology, Robert Katz, Werner Hofmann
Robert Katz Publications
A radiation field is made up of a tangle of particle tracks, from the primary particle and secondary and higher generation electron interactions, well isolated at low doses and with multiple intersections in cell nuclei at high doses. Low dose effects in multicellular systems are therefore the sum of individual track structures. Until we can state with confidence the structure of a particle track in biological matter for all end-points of interest, at least as well as we can for nuclear emulsions, our knowledge of low dose effects should be regarded as uncertain and inadequate. In this context “track structure” …