This article Denuclearize-or-lose-our-species-multigenerational-effects-of-exposure-to-radiation/ illustrates why radiation exposure is never safe. See below for my thoughts on the "holey" genome being produced as result of environmental exposures to genotoxins and epigenetic triggers or silencers:
The Holey Human Genome
My hypothesis is that de novo mutations and subtle, but
adverse, alterations in genetic expression are being caused by exposures – both
internal and external – in excess of the
expected rate of mutation in humans. Exposures include chemicals, toxic
elements (e.g., lead, mercury, radiocesium, etc.) and electromagnetic
radiation.
We evolved under electromagnetic radiation and many toxic
elements are indigenous to earth, although humans freed them from their mineral
matrices and created in abundance radionuclides rarely if ever found at all on
earth, including Plutonium-239 and Cesium-137.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive baseline for
human rates of mutation prior to the industrial era. All we have are recently
developed baseline figures, which are really simply estimations. For example, Durbin
et al (2010) estimated the rate of de novo germline base
substitution mutations to be approximately 10−8 per base pair
per generation (Durbin, Richard M. Nature. 10/28/2010,
Vol. 467 Issue 7319, p1061-1073).
Getting a handle on epigenetics is even more
complicated yet we know that chemicals and viruses can alter gene expression,
among many other potential triggers.
The effect of increased rates of genetic mutation and
epigenetic instabilities would be most likely to be expressed in chronic
diseases and/or syndromes rather than discrete bodily deformations:
neurological syndromes, immunological syndromes (especially inflammatory
responses), endocrine syndromes, etc. Often people with syndromes have comorbid
conditions.
Acquired mutations and genetic alterations in eggs, sperm,
and mitochondrial DNA will be transmitted across generations. Think cascading
failures as a result of too many subtle alterations of genetic expression
across time.
Fukushima Daiichi Steaming this Morning
Daiichi in Pink yesterday
PREVIOUS POSTS: GENETICS,
HUMAN HEALTH AND RADIATION
Burdening the species with genetic mutations: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/burdening-species-with-genetic.html
Mutations and Germ Line Mosaicism: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/mutations-germ-line-mosaicism.html
Ionizing radiation and germ line cell damage: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/ionizing-radiation-and-germ-cell-damage.html
Studying autism and radiation: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/autism-and-environment-lets-study.html
How to Bias Studies on Radiation: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-bias-studies-on-biological.html
Radiation dose history: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/estimating-dose-and-history-of.html
Run when you hear no immediate danger: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/run-when-you-hear-no-immediate-danger.html
Sociopaths run world and nuclear energy: http://majiasblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/sociopaths-run-world-and-nuclear-energy.html
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