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A colorless, odorless, heavy radioactive gas that is a decay product of uranium

cancer-causing agents

The development of cancer

solid tumors that start in the epithelial tissue; one of the two major categories of cancers

The basic unit of heredity.

A specific section on a chromosome, the DNA double helix that contains a specific sequence of nitrogenous organic bases that is related to a particular characteristic.

The over-expression of a gene that occurs when there are extra copies of the proto-oncogene in a cell.

A key suppressor gene; unlike other suppressor genes, gene p53 also kills malignant cells.

Literally, white blood; a neoplastic overproduction of white blood cells.

Genes that direct a cell to function abnormally.

The genetic mutation that results when a single base pair in the DNA strand is lost or changed.

The source of oncogenes; present in all mammalian cells, proto-oncogenes participate in normal cell growth.

A multi-hit aberration in which the tops of adjacent chromosomes are broken and the resulting fragments attach to one another, possibly resulting in the alteration of some genetic information the most common form of radiation-induced chromosomal abnormalities may not necessarily result in cell death.

Cancers that begin in connective tissue; one of the two major categories of cancers.

Refers to all the cells in the human body except the germ cells (genetic cells).

Genes that suppress the replication of malignant cells.

A somatic effect is biologic damage to the exposed individual caused by exposure to ionizing radiation.

Effects that appear within minutes, hours, days or weeks after exposure to ionizing radiation.

Effects that appear months, years, or decades after exposure to ionizing radiation. May result from previous whole or partial body high radiation doses, or they may be the product of individual low-level doses sustained over the years.

Biological somatic effects of ionizing radiation that can be directly related to the dose received. Require a threshold dose. Does not occur below the threshold dose.

Above the threshold, the severity of the biologic damage increases as the dose increases.

Nausea, fatigue, intestinal disorders, desquamation, erythema, epilation, hematologic depression, reduced fertility/sterility, central nervous system damage

Cataracts, life span shortening, fibrosis, organ atrophy, reduced fertility/sterility, loss of parenchymal cells (the functional cells of an organ)

Mutational, nonthreshold, randomly occuring biological somatic changes in which the chance of occurrence of the effect rather than the severity of the effect is proportional to the dose of ionizing radiation. This means that the effect occurs randomly and the severity of the effect is not dose dependent- the chance of occurrence is proportional to the dose. Example: the more radiation exposure – the greater the odds of developing cancer.

Carcinogenesis and embryologic effects or birth defects

the formation that results when the ends of a severed chromosome join and form a ring-generally results in cell death

A chromosome with two centromeres-generally results in cell death.

A chromosome fragment that has no centromere

A multi-hit aberration in which the tops of adjacent chromosomes are broken and the resulting fragments attach to one another. The most common form of the radiation-induced chromosomal abnormalities-may not necessarily result in cell death.

Associated with an increase in certain types of cancer.

The most important late stochastic somatic effect caused by exposure to ionizing radiation. The end result of a series of events occurring within a cell, not a single event.

May stay in one location or metastasize.

When a damaged sperm or ovum combines with another reproductive cell, the mutation can be transmitted to future generations.

the greater the probability of cancer

All human cells, although it is more common in certain parts of the body

uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cells produce more rapidly.

Risk model used to estimate late radiation effects on large populations when there is no precise knowledge of the radiation dose; it predicts a percentage increase in incidence.

The period between the interaction with a cancer-causing agent and the expression of the cancer.

A link has been established between radiation exposure and cancer.

Men

extremely low

Group that directs many of the risk studies related to radiation exposure

Over-exposure to sun and ultraviolet light

chemicals and radiation

No

Yes

20 to 50 years

it suppresses and kills tumors

100

Blood-forming tissue, lymphatic system, skin, uterus

linear-quadratic radiation dose response relationship

Men smoke more than women, men face more occupational hazards

With older individuals, natural death may occur before the end of the latent period.

Remains in one place in the body and spreads to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system

Through gene amplification, by chromosomal reciprocal translocation, from a point mutation

the probability of a woman developing breast cancer

Lung Cancer

10 to 20 years

The approximate percentage of cancers that can be traced to occupational exposure to chemicals or environmental pollution

13%

Age over 50, previous case of breast cancer, childlessness (nulliparity), first child after 30

The prediction of cancer risk following radiation exposure in a certain population; a specific number of excessive malignancies will occur due to the dose

Approx 80%

linear-nonthreshold