A Graphical review of radiogenic animal cancer data using the 'dose and dose-rate map'

We have been investigating the effects of low dose or low dose rate irradiation on mice, using our low dose-rate irradiation facilities. In these studies, we found that the effects were highly dependent on both total dose and dose rate. To show this visually, we proposed the 'dose and dose-rate map (DDR map),' and plotted the results of our laboratory and our co-workers. The map demonstrated that dose and dose rate plane could be divided into three areas; an area where harmful effects are observed, an area where no harmful effects are observed and another area, between previous two areas, where certain protective functions are enhanced As this map would be a powerful tool to find some trend among the vast numbers of data relating the biological effects of ionizing radiation, we have developed a computer program which plots the collected data on the DDR map sorting by experimental conditions. In this study we graphically reviewed and analyzed the data relating to the lifespan studies of animals with a view to determining the relationships between doses and dose rates of ionizing radiation and cancer incidence. The data contains about 800 sets of experiments, which concerns 187,000 animals exposed to gamma ray or X-ray and their 112,000 controls, and total of about 30,000 cancers in exposed animals and 14,000 cancers in controls. About 800 points of data were plotted on the DDR map. The plot showed that the divided three areas in the DDR map were generally confirmed by these 800 points of data, and in some particular conditions, exempli gratia (e.g.) sarcoma, the biologically effective area is extended to relatively high dose and dose rate area. (author)