Evidence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Workplace — a Review

There is growing evidence that low-level exposure to ionizing radiation may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some of this evidence comes from epidemiological studies of occupational exposure to radiation. A review of the studies of workplace exposure suggests that proper account must be taken of the influence of major background risk factors before a reliable interpretation of the findings can be made. Only when a detailed assessment can be conducted of the full range of epidemiological findings that include adjustment for background risk factors, together with an enhanced knowledge of potentially relevant radiobiological mechanisms, will appropriate inferences for the purposes of radiological protection be possible. (author)