Radiation hazards and chemical risks - a comparison

Many cell mechanisms resulting in damage of living materials are of a similar kind for radiation and chemicals. Therefore it is not surprising that radiation and many chemicals can have a similar effect and result in i.a. cancer, fetus lesions and hereditarity changes. In the environment both radiation and number of chemicals occur. Strengthening as well as weakening effects are known, both from radiation in combination with chemicals and from various chemicals in combination. The report discusses the importance of this for risk assessment and for the possibility of comparing impacts of radiation and chemicals The human body possesses a great ability to protect itself from health hazards from radiation and chemicals. This even holds for cancer. Many large exposures are difficult to decrease, i.e. from smoking, sun-bathing and high content of fat in food. Thus, concentration of effects on strengthening of the body's defense ability should be an important complement to decrease of exposures. (O.S.)