Children are more susceptible to radiation-induced cancer

Children are more susceptible to radiation-induced cancer

Infants and children have a higher risk of cancer than adults due to radiation , such as in the event of a nuclear , scientific report of the United Nations on Friday .

The children were more sensitive than adults to develop 25 percent of tumor types , including leukemia and cancers of the thyroid , brain and breast , the report said .

" The threat was significantly higher , depending on the circumstances , " said the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation ( UNSCEAR ) in a statement .

UNSCEAR said began compiling the report in 2011 , the year when the Fukushima nuclear incident occurred in Japan , although the worst disaster since 25 years is not mentioned in the report . Committee in May said that the number of cancer patients is not expected to increase after the Fukushima tragedy .

Studies of the 1986 Chernobyl incident in Ukraine showed linkage with radioactive iodine thyroid cancer . The thyroid is the organ most severely exposed as the radioactive accumulated in these organs. The children , especially the most vulnerable affected .

The report submitted to the UN General Assembly on Friday that said children and adults should be considered separately in order to more accurately estimate the risk .

" Because of their differences in anatomy and physiology , radiation exposure has a different impact on children compared to adults , " said Fred Mettler , chairman of the expert team UNSCEAR .

" Not recommended to use the same generalization with an adult , when considering the risks and effects of radiation during childhood , " he added .

Children generally equated with adults in epidemiological research , the committee said .

UNSCEAR said , has reviewed 23 types of cancer , some of which are " highly relevant for evaluating the radiological consequences " of the nuclear tragedy and some medical procedures .

In about 15 percent of cancer types such as colon cancer , children have the same sensitivity to the adult , and in 10 percent of cancer types such as the type that attacks the lungs , the children are less sensitive than adults , the report said .

" These data are too weak to draw conclusions on the type of cancer 20 percent , " said UNSCEAR . " There is a weak or no association between exposure and the real risk in any