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Pages 208-231

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From page 208... ... . The scientific uncertainties related to risks from low doses of radiation complicate non-experts' understanding of the risks, but existing research argues that these uncertainties need to be effectively communicated to allow informed decisions considering the risks and benefits of exposures to radiation (Allisy-Roberts and Day, 2008; Fischhoff and Davis, 2014; Osman et al., 2019) Read the entire page →
From page 209... ... 6.8.1 Mechanisms for Coordination Coordination can occur in many ways -- for example, by division of tasks, mutual awareness of activities to help exploit possible synergies, and sharing of resources such as facilities or data. For the low-dose radiation program to be successful and accomplish the scientific goals identified by this committee, it needs to establish mechanisms for coordination across federal agencies and other national and international organizations that carry out low-dose radiation research or have relevant expertise and entities that carry out relevant (non-radiation) Read the entire page →
From page 210... ... , and provide mechanisms for temporary assignment of personnel to learn new methodologies or use resources. • Participating in national and international data sharing platforms to increase awareness about funded low-dose radiation research (see Section 4.5.4 for current NEA/OECD data sharing platform) Read the entire page →
From page 211... ... Today, there is no coordinating mechanism for low-dose radiation research in the United States. A historic model for radiation research and policy coordination, the Committee on Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination (CIRRPC; see Section 4.1.6) Read the entire page →
From page 212... ... Among various federal agencies with missions to enhance or protect health, NIH is widely trusted by the scientific community and members of the public and does not have any regulatory responsibilities related to setting or implementing radiation protection standards; therefore, it has no perceived conflict of interest with leading low-dose radiation research 22 See https://www.globalchange.gov/about/legal-mandate. Read the entire page →
From page 213... ... . More recently, DOE and NCI launched the Joint Design of Advanced Computing Solutions for Cancer program to accelerate developments in precision oncology and advanced scientific computing.24 The committee supports a similar approach to be used to lead the coordination of low-dose radiation research, with DOE leading a portion of the strategic research agenda (e.g., on genome biology, computational, and modeling research, and support for facilities for low-dose and low-dose-rate exposures) Read the entire page →
From page 214... ... Given these complexities, adopting -- and sustaining over decades -- a workable DOE-NIH collaboration will require commitment from all entities involved in leading, providing oversight, and approving budgets for the two agencies. 6.9 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE LOW-DOSE PROGRAM Congress has assigned the management of the low-dose radiation program to DOE, but congressional staff told the committee that other government agencies could initiate their own low-dose radiation programs, carry out research that is dedicated to low-dose radiation, or have a low-dose radiation research component.25 Following briefings by congressional staff,26 DOE,27 and members of the scientific28 and impacted communities,29 the committee observed that there are, in some cases, substantially different views and perspectives related to the suitability of DOE to manage the low-dose radiation program. Read the entire page →
From page 215... ... At the first briefing, in July 2021, the DOE representative did not indicate an interest in or commitment to managing the new low-dose radiation program and noted that the program did not fit within the office's current research priorities and portfolio; moreover, the program's long-term sustainability was uncertain, and its adoption within the office would depend on leadership buy-in.32 The representative also told the committee that the funds from the 2021 appropriation had been used to support a computational research program at national laboratories (see more information about the project in Section 4.1.1) but provided little detail about the project or its relevance to low-dose radiation research. Read the entire page →
From page 216... ... . 6.9.4 Views of Members of the Impacted Communities Members of the impacted communities and advocates have consistently criticized DOE for an inherent conflict of interest in conducting radiation health research and have repeatedly expressed their distrust toward DOE to manage the program because of its role as manager of radiation exposures in different settings. Read the entire page →
From page 217... ... The committee has detailed a prioritized research agenda and organizational elements that, if adopted by DOE, would go a long way toward meeting the scientific goals as well as establishing trust. Also, as outlined in this report, DOE would need to coordinate with other agencies that are engaged in low-dose radiation research or have relevant capabilities; this would ensure that the capabilities at DOE on genome biology, computational, and modeling research are complemented by capabilities in other parts of the government. Read the entire page →
From page 218... ... In addition, the research agenda proposed by the committee extends beyond any single agency's capabilities, and a partnership with an agency whose mission is to enhance health would be warranted. Among various federal agencies with missions to enhance or protect health, NIH is widely trusted by the scientific community and members of the public and does not have any regulatory responsibilities related to setting or implementing radiation protection standards; therefore, it has no perceived conflict of interest with leading low-dose radiation research through a cross-institutional effort. Read the entire page →
From page 219... ... Finding 8: The Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Science has a long history leading and supporting radiation research at national laboratories and universities to advance knowledge of radiation health effects and mechanisms of these effects. Read the entire page →
From page 220... ... Recommendation B: Agencies responsible for the management of the multidisciplinary low-dose radiation program should incorporate the following elements: 1. Programmatic commitment to developing and maintaining a long-term multidisciplinary low-dose radiation research pro gram that leverages the advances in U.S. Read the entire page →
From page 221... ... . "Early life ionizing radiation exposure and cancer risks: Systematic review and meta-analysis." Pediatric Radiology 51(1) Read the entire page →
From page 222... ... Radiation Research 197(1) Read the entire page →
From page 223... ... . "Establishing mechanisms af fecting the individual response to ionizing radiation." International Journal of Radiation Biology 96(3) Read the entire page →
From page 224... ... . "Celebrating 60 years of accomplishments of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute." Radiation Research 196(2) Read the entire page →
From page 225... ... . "Bio dosimetry of Chernobyl cleanup workers from Estonia and Latvia using the glycophorin A in vivo somatic cell mutation assay." Radiation Research 147(2) Read the entire page →
From page 226... ... . "Comparison of all solid cancer mortality and incidence dose-response in the Life Span Study of Atomic Bomb Survivors, 1958–2009." Radiation Research. Read the entire page →
From page 227... ... . "Lung, laryngeal and other respiratory cancer incidence among Japanese atomic bomb survivors: An updated analysis from 1958 through 2009." Radia tion Research 187(5) Read the entire page →
From page 228... ... . "Systematic review and meta-analysis of residential radon and lung cancer in never-smokers." European Respiratory Review 30(159) Read the entire page →
From page 229... ... . "Dose estimation for atomic bomb survivor studies: Its evolution and present status." Radiation Research 166(1 Pt. Read the entire page →
From page 230... ... . "Cutaneous radiation injuries: Models, assessment and treatments." Radiation Research 194(3) Read the entire page →
From page 231... ... Washington, DC, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Radiation Protection Di vision, Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-01/ documents/epa_pag_manual_final_revisions_01-11-2017_cover_disclaimer_8.pdf. Read the entire page →

From page 208...

... . The scientific uncertainties related to risks from low doses of radiation complicate non-experts' understanding of the risks, but existing research argues that these uncertainties need to be effectively communicated to allow informed decisions considering the risks and benefits of exposures to radiation (Allisy-Roberts and Day, 2008; Fischhoff and Davis, 2014; Osman et al., 2019)