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PubMed1989

Radiation hazards on space missions outside the magnetosphere.

Future space missions outside the magnetosphere will subject astronauts to a hostile and unfamiliar radiation environment. An annual dose equivalent to the blood-forming organs (BFOs) of approximately 0.5 Sv is expected, mostly from heavy ions in the galactic cosmic radiation. On long-duration missions, an anomalously-large solar energetic particle event may occur. Such an event can expose astronauts to up to approximately 25 Gy (skin dose) and up to approximately 2 Sv (BFO dose) with no shielding. The anticipated radiation exposure may necessitate spacecraft design concessions and some restriction of mission activities. In this paper we discuss our model calculations of radiation doses in several exo-magnetospheric environments. Specific radiation shielding strategies are discussed. A new calculation of aluminum equivalents of potential spacecraft shielding materials demonstrates the importance of low-atomic-mass species for protection from galactic cosmic radiation.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1994

HZE particle effects in space.

Among the various particulate components of ionizing radiation in space, heavy ions (the so-called HZE particles) have been of special concern to radiobiologists. To understand the ways by which HZE particles of cosmic radiation interact with biological systems, methods have been developed to precisely localize the trajectory of an HZE particle relative to the biological object and to correlate the physical data of the particle with the biological effects observed along its path. In a variety of test systems, injuries were traced back to the traversal of a single HZE particle, such as somatic mutations, and chromosomal aberrations in plant seeds, development disturbances and malformations in insect and salt shrimp embryos, or cell death in bacterial spores. In the latter case, a long-ranging killing effect around the particle's track was observed. Whereas, from spaceflight experiments, substantial infomation has been accumulated on single HZE particle effects in resting systems and in a few embryonic systems, there is a paucity of data on cosmic radiation effects in whole tissues or animals, especially mammalians.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The effects of cosmic particle radiation on pocket mice aboard Apollo XVII: appendix III. evaluation of viscera and other tissues.

Histopathological findings in the lungs, livers, bone marrows, small intestines, gonads, kidneys, and other tissues of the four pocket mice (Perognathus longimembris) that survived the Apollo XVII flight were evaluated in the light of their immediate environment and as targest of HZE cosmic ray particles. Results of this study failed to disclose changes that could be ascribed to the HZE particle radiation. Decreased numbers of erythropoietic cells in the bone marrow of the flight mice were probably related to the increased oxygen pressure. The small intestine showed no changes. Ovaries and tests appeared normal. Two of the three surviving male flight mice displayed early stages of spermatogenesis, just as ground-based controls did at the same season. Abnormalities were also not found in the thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, or kidneys. The status of the juxtaglomerular apparatus could not be evaluated. The lungs exhibited nonspecific slight rections. A variety of incidental lesions were noted in the livers of both the flight mice and their controls. The heart muscle showed nothing that could be regarded as pathological. Sections of skeletal muscle examined were free from significant change.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed2003

Pregnancy outcome among offspring of airline pilots and cabin attendants.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the occurrence of perinatal death, low birthweight, preterm birth, and birth defects (total, major, neural tube defects, total cleft, cleft palate, hypospadias, and Down syndrome) in the offspring of airline pilots and cabin attendants. METHODS: A cohort of offspring of airline pilots and cabin attendants was established and characterized in terms of parental exposure to cosmic radiation the year before birth or ever. Pregnancy outcome was derived from the Medical Birth Register of Norway. The reference group comprised offspring of parents without occupational exposure to cosmic radiation. RESULTS: No deviant risks were observed for the offspring of male pilots, either for the year preceding birth (N=2,111) or ever (N=2,356). Specific birth outcomes were fewer for the pilots than for the referents (N=1,621,186), except for Down syndrome, which was more frequent [odds ratio (OR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.53-3.76]. For exposure the year preceding birth (N=2,512), the risk of low birthweight was lower for the female cabin attendants than for the referents (adjusted OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69-1.00), while Down syndrome was more frequent (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.60-3.47). For exposure ever (N=3346), the risk of low birthweight was lower (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.96) for the cabin attendants, while hypospadias (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.61-3.04) and Down syndrome (OR 1.79, 95% CI 0.03-3.45) were more frequent CONCLUSIONS: In general, offspring of air pilots and cabin attendants do not seem to be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Aircraft↗
PubMed1994

Recent results of the joint ESA-DARA/IBMP experiments Biokosmos "Seeds".

Comparison of experimental data obtained from short (SDEF) and long duration exposure flights (LDEF) have recently led to results which will be significant for longer and/or repeated sojourn of man in space. Under orbital conditions biological stress and damage are induced in test subjects by cosmic radiation, especially the high energetic, densely ionizing component of heavy ions. Plant seeds were successful model systems for a biotest in studying the physiological damages and mutagenic effect caused by ionizing cosmic radiation in particular stem cells. Dosimetrically, the subdivision into charge- and Let-groups reveals the contribution of the intermediate group (LET = 350-1000 MeV/cm) due to the medium heavy ions (Z = 6-10). Their relative contribution increases with the lower inclination of the orbit of LDEF-1; on the other hand, the total fluence becomes higher with longer duration of the flight. The observed endpoints of the biological radiation damage hint at a correlation with particle dose rate rather than with the dose; additionally, data on shielding effects inside and outside the space craft and its exposure were gained from the different SDEF- and LDEF-missions.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1999

[Air travel in pregnancy].

Women who fly during pregnancy, whether as passengers or crew, continue to fuel the debate over the potential impact on pregnancy outcome and fetal development, the two risk factors most commonly invoked being relative hypoxaemia due to the decreased cabin pressure and, more recently, cosmic radiation. On both theoretical and experimental grounds (altitude physiology and studies in pregnant women during flight), commercial flight poses no threat to the fetal oxygen supply in a normal pregnancy. As for cosmic radiation, only theoretical estimates are available of flight crew exposure: if annual doses approximate to background at ground level (3-5 mSv), the dose received during an individual pregnancy can be estimated from the fraction of annual flight time spent while pregnant. It is doubtful whether any epidemiological study could ever confirm or refute this theoretical estimate of a low increase in risk. Many airlines have opted to allow pregnant crew to continue flying. There is thus little if any ground for advising against passenger flight in pregnancy. Flying is probably the safest and most comfortable way to travel long-distance in pregnancy. The few relative contraindications include flying close to term, a history of miscarriage and premature delivery, heavy smoking, severe anemia, cardiopulmonary disease, and a serious fear of flying.

Aircraft↗
PubMed1996

Influence of the environment in space on the biochemical characteristics of human low density lipoproteins.

The purpose of this experiment was to study the efficiency of protective substances on the effects of cosmic radiation in space on low density lipoproteins. This environment induced modifications in LDL consisting of an increase of lipid peroxidation markers (hydroperoxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). In contrast, apo B was not affected by cosmic radiation as shown by the stability of the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid reactivity and the tryptophan content. Furthermore, oxidation of LDL was partially inhibited by the addition of cysteamine or/and probucol before the spaceflight experiment. The hydroperoxide formation was almost completely inhibited by cysteamine. It was concluded that antioxidants can exert a protective effect against peroxidative stress induced by the space environment.

Cosmic Radiation↗
PubMed2001

A method applicable to effective dose rate estimates for aircrew dosimetry.

The inclusion of cosmic radiation as occupational exposure under ICRP Publication 60 and the European Union Council Directive 96/29/Euratom has highlighted the need to estimate the exposure of aircrew. According to a report of the Group of Experts established under the terms of Article 31 of the European Treaty, the individual estimates of dose for flights below 15 km may be done using an appropriate computer program. In order to calculate the radiation exposure at aircraft altitudes, calculations have been performed by means of the Monte Carlo transport code FLUKA. On the basis of the calculated results, a simple method is proposed for the individual evaluation of effective dose rate due to the galactic component of cosmic radiation as a function of latitude and altitude.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗
PubMed1998

Estimation of environmental gamma background radiation levels in Pakistan.

For the purpose of preparing an environmental gamma radiation map of Pakistan, the geological materials exposed in the country were divided into eight different classes. Using average 238U, 232Th, and 40K content of these materials, total absorbed dose rate in these rocks was calculated. The dose rate in the environment ranged from 1 nGy h(-1) to 97 nGy h(-1) with a mean value of 59 nGy h(-1). These data are presented as a dose rate map of Pakistan. This map provides a usable regional picture of environmental gamma background radiation levels excluding cosmic radiation in Pakistan.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed2004

Occupational radiation dose estimation for Finnish aircraft cabin attendants.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to develop a method for assessing dose radiation on the basis of individual flight history and to estimate whether this method is applicable for cabin attendants without flight log data. METHODS: Questionnaire data were collected to determine attendants' flight history covering up to three decades. Finnair timetables and an expert panel of pilots were used to determine one to four representative flights in five route categories. The cumulative career and annual doses were calculated on the basis of the flight histories and route-specific exposure data. RESULTS: Questionnaire data were obtained from 544 flight attendants. The mean number of active workyears was 10.5 (range 0-30) years, and the mean cosmic radiation dose was 3.2 (range 0-9.5) mSv per active workyear. The mean cumulative career dose for all the cabin attendants was 34.0 (range 0-156.8) mSv. CONCLUSIONS: If no flight log data are available, survey data are needed for individual dose estimation when possible radiation effects on cabin crew are evaluated in epidemiologic studies. This method provides a crude procedure for assessing cosmic radiation exposure among attendants when survey data are missing.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Incidence of cancer among Finnish airline cabin attendants, 1967-92.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether occupational exposure among commercial airline cabin attendants are associated with risk of cancer. DESIGN: Record linkage study. SETTING: Finland. SUBJECTS-1577 female and 187 male cabin attendants who had worked for the Finnish airline companies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Standardised incidence ratio; expected number of cases based on national cancer incidences. RESULTS: A significant excess of breast cancer (standardised incidence ratio 1.87 (95% confidence interval 1.15 to 2.23)) and bone cancer (15.10 (1.82 to 54.40)) was found among female workers. The risk of breast cancer was most prominent 15 years after recruitment. Risks of leukaemia (3.57 (0.43 to 12.9)) and skin melanoma (2.11 (0.43 to 6.15) were not significantly raised. Among men, one lymphoma and one Kaposi's sarcoma were found (expected number of cases 1.6). CONCLUSIONS: Although the lifestyle of cabin attendants is different from that of the reference population--for example, in terms of social status and parity--concentration of the excess risks to primary sites sensitive to radiation suggests that ionising radiation during flights may add to the cancer risk of all flight personnel. Otherwise the lifestyle of cabin attendants did not seem to affect their risks of cancer. Estimates of the effect of reproductive risk factors only partly explained the increased risk of breast cancer. If present estimates of health hazards due to radiation are also valid for cosmic radiation, then the radiation doses of cabin attendants seem too small to account entirely for the observed excess risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Mutation frequency of Dictyostelium discoideum spores exposed to the space environment.

Two strains of cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, a radiosensitive mutant and the parental wild-type strain, were used to investigate the effects of cosmic radiation on viability and mutation frequency at the spore stage for about 9 days in Space Shuttle of NASA. We measured little effect of space environment on viability and cell growth in the both strains as compared to ground controls. The mutation frequency of the flown spores were similar to that of ground control. These results suggest that there could be no effect of cosmic radiation, containing high linear energy transfer radiation at about 0.9 mSv/day as detected by real-time radiation monitoring device on the induction of mutation at the spore stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Temporal variation in the new proton belt created in March 1991 observed using the CREAM & CREDO experiments.

The Cosmic Radiation Environment & Activation Monitor (CREAM) was carried in high inclination (57.1 degrees) orbits on Shuttle missions STS-48 in September 1991 (altitude 570 km) and STS-53 (altitude 325 to 385 km) in December 1992. On both occasions the instrument observed an excess of counts due to protons of greater than 30 MeV in energy in the region off of South Africa where field lines of L=2.5 intersect low earth orbit. Meanwhile the Cosmic Radiation Environment and Dosimetry Experiment (CREDO) carried to 840 km, 98.7 degrees orbit on UOSAT-3 has continued to sample the high field portions of the L-shells around L = 2.5 from April 1990 until the present time. When careful subtraction of cosmic-ray contributions is made it can be seen that the March 91 enhancement persisted for approximately 8 months and explains the STS-48 observation. There would appear to have been a further increase produced by the 31 October 1992 flare event and seen by STS-53.

Atlantic Ocean↗
PubMed1981

Survival of microorganisms in space: a review.

Spores of Bacillus subtilis were exposed to selected factors of space (vacuum, solar UV radiation, heavy ions of cosmic radiation), and their response was studied after recovery. These investigations were supplemented by ground-based studies under simulated space conditions. The vacuum of space did not inactivate the spores. However, vacuum-induced structural changes in the DNA, and probably in the proteins, caused a supersensitivity to solar UV radiation. This phenomenon is caused by the production of specific photoproducts in DNA and protein, which cannot be removed by normal cellular repair processes. In vegetative bacterial cells, exposed to vacuum, cell dehydration led to damage of the cell membrane, which could be partly repaired during subsequent incubation. The high local effectiveness of the cosmic heavy ions further decreases the chance that spores can survive for any length of time in space. Nonetheless, a spore travelling through space and protected from ultraviolet radiation could possibly survive an interplanetary journey. Such a situation favors panspermia as a possible explanation for the origin of life.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed2005

Breast cancer risk among Finnish cabin attendants: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Earlier studies have found increased breast cancer risk among female cabin crew. This has been suggested to reflect lifestyle factors (for example, age at first birth), other confounding factors (for example, age at menarche), or occupational factors such as exposure to cosmic radiation and circadian rhythm alterations due to repeated jet lag. AIMS: To assess the contribution of occupational versus lifestyle and other factors to breast cancer risk among cabin attendants in Finland. METHODS: A standardised self-administered questionnaire on demographic, occupational, and lifestyle factors was given to 1041 cabin attendants. A total of 27 breast cancer cases and 517 non-cases completed the questionnaire. Breast cancer diagnoses were confirmed through the Finnish Cancer Registry. Exposure to cosmic radiation was estimated based on self-reported flight history and timetables. A conditional logistic regression model was used for analysis. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, family history of breast cancer (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.00 to 7.08) was the strongest determinant of breast cancer. Of occupational exposures, sleep rhythm disruptions (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 0.70 to 4.27) were positively related and disruption of menstrual cycles (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.26 to 1.96) negatively related to breast cancer. However, both associations were statistically non-significant. Cumulative radiation dose (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.83 to 1.19) showed no effect on breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that breast cancer risk among Finnish cabin attendants is related to well established risk factors of breast cancer, such as family history of breast cancer. There was no clear evidence that the three occupational factors studied affected breast cancer risk among Finnish flight attendants.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Embryonic development in the eggs of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, exposed to the space environment.

To investigate the effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity on embryogenesis and organogenesis in Bombyx eggs, two different stages of eggs, the early stage after oviposition and the diapause-terminated eggs, were loaded on the US Space Shuttle/Atlantis (STS-84) for a 9 day flight. More than 85% of the early stage eggs hatched in the flight sample and the ground control. In the diapause-terminated eggs, the percentage of unhatched eggs were 43% in the ground control and 56% in the flight sample. In these eggs, uncompleted embryonic reversal was observed two-fold higher percentage in the flight sample than in the ground control. The incidence of abnormality such as the larvae with segmental fusion and the appearance of abnormal crescent marking in the flight sample was significantly higher than that in the ground control. This was also observed in the 1st and 2nd filial generation of the flight sample. From these results, unsuccessful blastokinesis and the abnormal appearance was discussed in relation to cosmic radiation and microgravity.

Animals↗