A recent OECD report reviewed what is known and what is not known about radiation effects. This dose is well above that received by a patient in a diagnostic procedure and many times the annual dose limit for the most exposed radiation workers. At low doses radiation can cause cancer but it is not very carcinogenic at normal levels of exposure such as is encountered in the workplace. An increase in cancer incidence has only been proven in cases of exposure exceeding 200 mSv in adults and 10- 20 mSv in children. To date no hereditary effects have been observed in man.
Some organs have a greater potential to develop cancer than others.
The embryo and fetus are more sensitive than the adult or child. There is no method of measuring the radiosensivity of an individual. The cause of cancer cannot be definitely attributed to radiation exposure. The effect of radiation on different stages of carcinogenesis is not known. The beneficial effects of low doses of radiation has never been proved.