Background
Although cancer incidence shows a clear relationship to radiation dose, it is uncertain if low doses (<100mSv) of ionizing radiation increase the risk of developing cancer.
Furthermore, it is not clear if the high level of genetic variation among individuals contributes to differences in their susceptibility to the cancer promoting effects of radiation, especially at low doses.
A lasting legacy of the Chernobyl nuclear accident is an increase in the incidence of cancer of the thyroid gland, mostly due to incorporation of radioiodine.
Although some exposed individuals subsequently developed thyroid cancer the risk does not appear to be distributed equally. It is commonly assumed that the chance of developing cancer after radiation exposure is a stochastic process. However, genetic studies have consistently revealed that some individuals possess a genetic background that predisposes them to cancer, and in some cases also to a greater risk of developing cancer after exposure to radiation.
The GENRISK-T consortium is looking for evidence to establish if individual genetic factors indeed influence the risk of developing cancers of the thyroid after exposure to ionizing radiation.