Contributions to Radiation Risk Assessment by the Committee on Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII)

E.B. Douple and R. Jostes (The National Academies)

The BEIR VII Committee, composed of 17 scientists assembled by the Board on Radiation Effects Research (BRER) in the National Research Council of the National Academies, completed an assessment of the potential risks of low-dose, low-LET ionizing radiation. This presentation discusses the charge to the committee from the study’s sponsors, describes the process employed by the committee and the National Research Council to complete the tasks, and outlines the subject areas covered in the BEIR VII report. Differences between BEIR VII and the previous National Research Council comprehensive assessment of risks from exposure to low-LET radiations published in 1990 (BEIR V) are summarized, along with recommendations for future research.

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