What is radiation hormesis?

Radiation hormesis refers to the hypothesis that low doses of radiation may actually have beneficial effects on health, rather than being harmful as traditionally believed. This concept suggests that exposure to small amounts of radiation could stimulate biological responses that help improve health or reduce the risk of disease.

The basis of radiation hormesis is grounded in observed phenomena where low-level exposure appears to trigger adaptive responses at the cellular or systemic level, potentially enhancing the body's ability to repair damage caused by higher levels of radiation or other stressors. This idea contrasts with the linear no-threshold model, which posits that any amount of radiation increases cancer risk without a threshold.

Understanding radiation hormesis is significant in discussions about radiation safety, as it challenges the prevailing view that all forms of radiation exposure are detrimental.