Læknablaðið - 01.10.1968, Side 70

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LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
have been used to produce bone sarcoma in mice, and projection
of these results to tbe human population led in years past to
some apprehension with regard to radioactive fallout. However,
the careful studies of the United Nations Scientific Committee
on the Effects of Atomic Radiation have indicated that the
world-wide levels of fallout radiation are well below those at
which dangerous effects might be expected.
Indeed, it is interesting that the steepest decrease in incidence
of death rats from osteogenic sarcoma in the general population
of the United States occurred after radioactive isotopes became
widely available and radioactive fallout was widely distributed
although in very low concentrations (Fig. 10).
It must he remembered that many thousands of cases of
malignant disease have been successfully treated by radiation and
that without the diagnostic use of radiation many patients would
have died. While radiation can cause cancer, such cases are
relatively few as contrasted witli those who have been benefited.
Radiation carcinogenesis in the experimental animal may well
provide a useful tool in understanding how cancer develops.
REFERENCES
1. Report of the Committee on Genetic Effects of Radiation. In The
Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation. Summary Reports. U. S. National
Academy of Sciences, Washington, D. C., 1956.
2. RUSSELL, W. L„ RUSSELL, L. B„ and KELLY, E. M.: Science 128:1546,
1958.
3. KOELSCH, F.: Acta Unio Internai. Contra Cancer 3:243, 1938.
4. SIKL, H.: Ztschr. Krebsforsch. 32:609 1930.
5. WOLBACH, S. B.: J. Med. Res. 21:415, 1909.
6. PORTER, C. A.: J. Med. Res. 21:357, 1909.
7. WAGONER, J. K„ ARCHER, V. E„ LONDON, F. E„ HOLADAY, D. A„
and LLOYD, J. W.: New England J. Med. 273:181, 1965.
8. COOPER, W.: J. Occupational Med. 10:82, 1968.
9. SACCOMANNO, G„ ARCHER, V. E„ JAMES, L. A„ and BECKLER,
P. A.: Health Physics 10:1195, 1964.
10. MARCH, H. C.: Radiology 43:275, 1944.
11. WARREN, S„ and LOMBARD, O. M.: Arcli. Environ. Health 13:415, 1966.
12. COURT BROWN, W. M„ and DOLL, R.: Brit. Med. J.. 2:181, 1958.
13. HUTCHISON, B.: J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 1,0:951, 1968.
14. BIZZOZERO, O. J„ JR„ JOHNSON, K. G„ and CIOCCO, A.: New Eng-
land J. Med. 274:1095, 1966.
15. BRAESTRUP, C. B.: Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:988, 1957.
16. WARREN, S„ and MEISNER, L.: J. Am. Med. Assoc. 193:351, 1965.