SMALL DOSES AND CELL REHABILITATION

The least studied subject in biology is the action of small doses whic h are determined by extrapolation to low doses from the effects of con siderably higher doses. Quantitative regularities for the action of ra diation are considered to be the same for both high and low doses and not dependent on dose rate. In reality, this is not true. Particularly , cell rehabilitation under low irradiation rates can essentially lowe r the efficiency of chronic irradiation in comparison with acute irrad iation. Owing to this, the values of doses with no consequences for hu mans under chronic irradiation can be considerably higher than those c urrently recognized.