Estimation of radiation-induced genetic hazards

Radiation and chemically induced germ cell mutations in man are detrimental to future generations. It is the duty of the responsible generation to keep this risk as low as possible. The estimation of the genetic risk is difficult because of the lack of human data. Contrary to the observations on the induction of cancer in man by radiation, there are no reliable results of radiation-induced mutations. Despite the heavy radiation exposure resulting from the catastrophe at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no increase in the incidence of dominant mutations has been demonstrated. These results, however, do not lead to the conclusion that the radiation exposures at Hiroshima and Nagasaki did not induce mutations. Instead, we must conclude that animal experiments are essential for the estimation of the genetic risk due to radiation exposure. The studies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki agree well with these model concepts based upon animal experiments. (orig.)