Chronic Exposure

In general, the amount and duration of radiation exposure affects the severity or type of health effect. There are two broad categories of health effects: chronic (long-term) and acute (short-term).

Chronic exposure is continuous or intermittent exposure to low doses of radiation over a long period of time. With chronic exposure, there is a delay between the exposure and the observed health effects. These effects can include cancer and other health outcomes such as benign tumors, cataracts, and potentially harmful genetic changes.

Current science suggests there is some cancer risk from any exposure to radiation. However, it is nearly impossible to tell whether a particular cancer was caused by very low doses of radiation or by something else. While experts disagree over the exact definition and effects of low dose, U.S. radiation protection standards are based on the premise that any radiation dose carries some risk, and that the risk increases directly with the dose. This method of estimating risk is called the "linear no-threshold" (LNT) model. Age, sex, and factors such as tobacco use also inform the risk of cancer from radiation.

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