Radiation Protection Glossary

Linear Dose Response in Radiation Protection relates to the zero-threshold model which predicts that every small addition of radiation exposure contributes to an increment in the probability of a Probabilistic / Stochastic effect. The response relies on the assumption that even one Photon has the ability to cause an Ionisation event in DNA which may initiate cancer (or other genetic effect). In adopting this model one has to remember that there is no certainty that an ionising radiation event actually leads to biological damage (and thus cancer etc), rather, it it the likelihood of induction which increases.