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BOOKLET to Provide Basic Information Regarding Health Effects of Radiation (3rd edition)

Cellular Mutation and Stochastic Effects

Cellular Mutation and Stochastic Effects_Figure

Risks of effects of cellular mutation are considered to increase even if mutation occurs in a single cell.

Mutated cells are mostly repaired or eliminated but some survive and if their descendant cells are additionally mutated or the level of gene expression changes, the possibility of developing cancer cells increases. Proliferation of cancer cells leads to clinically diagnosed cancer (diagnosed by a doctor based on physical symptoms). Cells become cancerous as multiple mutated genes have accumulated without being repaired. Therefore, when assessing cancer-promoting effects, all doses that a person has received so far need to be taken into account.

  • Included in this reference material on March 31, 2013
  • Updated on March 31, 2019
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