The need for an integral approach to the protection of man against ionizing radiation and other mutagens

Ionizing radiation induces malignancy and hereditary defects but is not the only agent which has these hazardous properties. Many other agents, especially chemicals, are now being shown to have mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic activity. In some cases the synergistic interaction between two agents can be observed. A mathematical analysis is presented which leads to an analysis of the synergistic interaction of ionizing radiation with other mutagenic agents. Examples of the synergistic interaction are presented for UV and radiation, a nitrofuran and radiation and an antibiotic and radiation to demonstrate the use of the analysis. The implication of the analysis is that the synergistic interaction leads to an increase in the initial slope of the biological effect-dose relationship which is of prime importance for radiological protection. The fact that radiation does not have a unique hazardous biological effect and the fact that different hazardous agents may interact synergistically with each other implies that strict control of exposure to one agent (radiation) without complementary control of the other agents will have little success in ensuring a safe and healthy environment for man. The need for an integral approach to the protection of man against radiation and other mutagenic agents is discussed. (author)