Effects of ultra-low dose radiation on biological systems

所有活着的有机体都会持续暴露在背景辐射中。这种辐射的来源包括宇宙和地面辐射(例如，氡)。额外的暴露可能是工作场所或医学成像的结果。虽然高剂量暴露在电离辐射下会造成伤害，但人们对背景辐射对细胞功能的作用知之甚少。例如，尚不清楚背景辐射的消除是否会对细胞或生物体产生不稳定的影响。同样重要的是，背景辐射的存在如何使我们的细胞准备好应对高于背景水平的辐射(例如，医学成像)，这一点尚不清楚。北安大略省医学院、劳伦斯大学和布鲁斯·鲍尔合作研究了超低剂量辐射对生物系统的基本影响。这项研究将使用旨在消除自然背景辐射(SNOLAB)的最先进的世界级加拿大研究实验室进行。基础研究将在3个关键领域进行：1)准确描述SNOLAB和地面控制实验室内的背景辐射水平；2)确定超低剂量辐射对细胞功能和应激反应的影响；3)确定超低剂量辐射对胚胎发育和细胞发育的影响。所获得的科学知识将有助于理解环境、职业和医疗照射对细胞机制的影响。

All living organisms are continually exposed to background radiation. The sources of this radiation include cosmic and terrestrial radiation (e.g., radon). Additional exposure can be a result of the workplace or medical imaging. While high-dose exposure to ionizing radiation is known to cause harm, very little is known about the role background radiation has on cell function. For example, it is not known if the elimination of background radiation has a destabilizing effect on cells or organisms. Just as important, it is not known how the presence of background radiation prepares our cells to handle exposure to radiation that is above background levels (e.g., medical imaging). The Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Laurentian University and Bruce Power have partnered together to study the fundamental effects of ultra-low dose radiation on biological systems. This research will be performed using a state-of-the-art world class Canadian research laboratory designed to eliminate natural background radiation (SNOLAB). Fundamental research will be performed to examine 3 key areas: 1) accurately characterize background radiation levels within SNOLAB and in the surface control laboratory, 2) determine the effect of ultra-low dose radiation on cell function and the response to stress, and 3) determine the effect of ultra-low dose radiation on embryogenesis and cellular development. The scientific knowledge gained will be beneficial in understanding the cellular mechanisms impacted by environmental, occupational, and medical exposure to low dose radiation.