The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing the linear no-threshold (LNT) model of the health effects of radiation and the idea that LNT should be replaced with a radiation hormesis model.
The LNT model holds that radiation can cause health damage such as the development of cancer, with the amount of damage directly proportional to the dose. There is no dose threshold at which radiation damage does not occur, according to the model.
In contrast, the radiation hormesis model theorizes that small doses of radiation are actually beneficial to health by triggering a healing process.
NRC is requesting public comment on three petitions for rule-making that would amend the commission's "Standards for Protection Against Radiation" regulations by substituting the hormesis model for LNT, which researchers have called substantially flawed.
The public comment period, originally scheduled to close on September 8, has been extended to November 19 to offer the public more time to develop and submit comments.
