The change in the cell's genetic
material may occur spontaneously or be brought on by an agent that causes
cancer (a carcinogen). There
are hundreds of reasons such as pollution, family history, cigarette smoking,
intake of alcohol, exhausts from vehicles, etc for initiation of mutation in
the body. As compared to these, radiation is a weak carcinogen.
It is a well-known fact that aging is associated with a number of events at the
molecular, cellular and physiologic levels in our body that influence
carcinogenesis and subsequent cancer growth. It is also well documented that
the incidence of malignant tumors increases progressively with age, in both
animals and humans.
A
clearer understanding of these events will help in predicting and scientifically
explaining the incidences of cancer.
The radiation doses received by workers in most of
the facilities are in the range of natural background radiation dose to which
all human being are exposed. The increase, if at all true, may not be related
to the small radiation doses received by the workers and the members of the
public living near nuclear facilities. It is reported that majority of deaths
of persons in DAE centres are caused from cancer. If this is true, department should
investigate the reasons other than radiation exposure for such a trend.
