Risk estimates: Past, present, and future

Risk estimates for genetic disease developed over the past 30 y have been reviewed. The influence of dose rate and nonlinear dose-response curves on low dose estimates are discussed, and a reevaluation of doubling dose from acute irradiation is presented. The issue of differential sensitivity between human and mouse data are discussed with respect to the lack of an observable induced mutation rate in the offspring of A-bomb survivors. It is concluded that the presumably more sensitive mouse-derived risk estimates would not predict a significant increase in F1 abnormalities in humans. Therefore, it may be premature to accept the interpretation that man is less radiosensitive than the mouse