Children’s radiation safety is being overlooked and must be addressed, according to doctors Alan Schroeder, of Stanford and James Duncan of Washington University in St. Louis. The pediatricians published a Viewpoint article in JAMA Pediatrics urging for increased attention to the amount of ionizing radiation children receive. Information campaigns such
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Radiation protection gene discovered in tardigrades
Japanese researchers discovered a radiation protection gene in a small animal named the tardigrade. Source: sciencenews.org Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are resilient organisms able to survive through extreme temperatures, outer space, high pressures, and intense radiation. After decoding the entire genome of the Ramazzottius varieornatus tardigrade, the scientists
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China’s current nuclear safety frameworks effective, but require further development to cope with nuclear growth
A United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert team visited China to evaluate its nuclear safety in September this year. The team commended the country’s nuclear and radiation safety frameworks as effective. But with rapid nuclear energy growth, China should continue to further develop them. In the meantime, China should adopt
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Energy Department ends inquiry into Idaho radiation exposure
Two years ago, a radiation leak happened at an eastern Idaho nuclear facility, leading to the contamination of nine workers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the consequences of this event were low and they will not conduct a formal investigation. The agency will continue to monitoring the company’s efforts
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Diagnostic reference levels for radiation lowered in Germany
Germany’s Federal Office for Radiation Protection released a statement that nation’s diagnostic reference levels for all X-ray and CT examinations have been significantly reduced. Due to the increase in the efficacy of machines, less radiation is required to produce the same results as before. Depending on the test, radiation levels
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Food imports from Japan tested for radiation in Hong Kong
Ever since the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, Hong Kong has been testing Japanese food imports for radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi reactors’ meltdown. The Center for Food Safety (CFS) continues to test samples from Japanese imports five days a week around the clock. The U.S.
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Antioxidant complex protects proteins from radiation
Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences have discovered a potent manganese(II)-based antioxidant complex of the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans that can be used to protect animals from radiation injury. During the experiment, the researchers administered the manganese peptide antioxidants (MDP) to a group of mice prior to
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Cell phones and cancer in rats linked in new study
A new study has recently been released by the National Toxicology Program has shown that rats who have been exposed to radiation from cell phones over the course of two years are 5% more likely to develop cancer, when compared to a control group. While these numbers might seem unsettling,
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Healthcare providers in cath labs may be harmed by radiation
A new study done by Maria Grazia Andreassi of the CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology in Pisa, Italy, shows that healthcare workers in cardiology may be harmed by radiation at work. Hospital staff who work in so-called “cath labs”, where procedures for many heart conditions including heart arrhythmias and heart
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Scientists are grappling with this critical risk to a human mission to Mars
With movies like The Martian gaining in popularity recently, scientists still have a few problems to tackle before a manned mission to Mars is possible. One of these problems is the huge amounts of radiation that astronauts would be exposed to on the surface of Mars. Since Mars lacks a
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