Sievert lethal radiation doses for Non-Humans (other animals)

In summary, the article discusses the topic of 5.5% calibrated sievert, and how it applies to all species. It also discusses the effects of low doses and dose rates on radiation protection. There is a possibility that this 5.5% calibrated sievert may not apply to everything, and that different rates of radiation may have different effects on different species.
  • #1
Silly Questions
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Does every species get its own 5.5%-calibrated sievert?

It's morbid to ask, I know, but given that Chernobyl is full of dogs I have to ask whether there is such a thing as a dog-sievert?
 
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  • #2
I don't know anything about the dogs, but I do have a Sievert lethal radiation doses chart. See attachment.
 

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  • #3
For many dangerous things we know the risk for rats better than the risk for humans.
Silly Questions said:
It's morbid to ask, I know, but given that Chernobyl is full of dogs I have to ask whether there is such a thing as a dog-sievert?
As long as dogs aren't suddenly 10 times more sensitive (why would they?) it won't have a big impact on them. It doesn't have a measurable impact on the humans living there either. With less mass and a shorter lifespan cancer should be even less of a concern for dogs.
 
  • #4
Is there then a rat-sievert? Either every animal for which we have data has its own 5.5% per sievert chance or [coincidence notwithstanding] it's a different % for all non-humans so that the same dose is the same sievert count regardless of species. But it can't be both.
 
  • #5
A sievert is a sievert. The acute LD50 dose and the lifetime risk to die from cancer from a given radiation dose are different for rats.
 
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  • #6
Silly Questions said:
Does every species get its own 5.5%-calibrated sievert?
What do you mean by 5.5% calibrated sievert?
 
  • #7
Per mfb's answer all species use the same, human-calibrated Sievert. This means each has its own %-chance, whatever that may turn out to be. For humans it's 5.5%.

Thanks to mfb for your answer.
 
  • #8
Silly Questions said:
This means each has its own %-chance, whatever that may turn out to be. For humans it's 5.5%.
Percent chance of what? 5.5% cannot apply to everything. You must define an end point for example the dose that 50% of people will survive for 30 days. Because human data with adequate dosimetry is so sparse these doses are only estimates. LD50 only related lethality due to the radiation without medical intervention for example the denuding of epithelial cells in the intestines (gastrointestinal syndrome) and bone marrow death (hematopoietic syndrome).

The rate at which the radiation dose is accumulated is very important also. The effect of 1Sv delivered in one minute is different from that dose delivered in one week.
 
  • #9
This 5.5%:
"One sievert carries with it a 5.5% chance of eventually developing fatal cancer based on the linear threshold model."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sievert

Per the article that model has both lower and upper bounds outside of which Sieverts no longer make sense as a unit of measure, which I think is what you were getting at?
 
  • #10
Silly Questions said:
It's morbid to ask, I know, but given that Chernobyl is full of dogs I have to ask whether there is such a thing as a dog-sievert?
OK, I got it. The US has had a program from the 50's to about 1990 irradiating beagles to study the incidence of cancer that are produced. I do not know the results of those studies but are probably available in a journal or government report. This program was no secret. I would expect that yes, the induction of cancer in dogs is different from humans after all radiation sensitivity is different among species. How much??. This information is particularly valuable at low doses and dose rates for radiation protection purposes, but experiments are more difficult since effects are lower. The beagle experiments were generally not useful for these estimates AFAIK.

I believe the ICRP report reference in the Wiki article used data analysis from the latest BEIR report (Biological Effect of Ionizing Radiation) of the National Research Council which heavily relies on atomic bomb survivor data. The analysis of this data has come under increasing criticism and could have a profound effect on the estimates of carcinogenesis so the 5.5% is in question.
 
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  • #11
I vaguely remember a study back in the 1970s questioning why airline workers weren't getting cancer at rates predicted by the atomic bomb survivor evidence-based models you mentioned. Those models broke down at low enough exposure levels, but actually collecting enough data to know took decades. it didn't help that for low-level exposure the models failed upward -- though that was of great relief to airline crews I'm sure.

I'm certain you know more on DNA resilience to low-dose radiation than I do. If you'd like to expand on the topic I'd be more than interested.
 

What is a Sievert lethal radiation dose for non-human animals?

A Sievert lethal radiation dose is the amount of radiation that is lethal to an animal. It is measured in Sieverts (Sv), which is a unit of radiation dose. It takes into account the type of radiation, the energy of the radiation, and the sensitivity of the animal's tissues to the radiation.

How is the Sievert lethal radiation dose determined for non-human animals?

The Sievert lethal radiation dose is determined through various experiments and studies on different animal species. These studies measure the effects of different levels of radiation on the animals and determine the dose that is lethal to them. The results are then used to calculate the Sievert lethal radiation dose for each species.

What factors influence the Sievert lethal radiation dose for non-human animals?

The Sievert lethal radiation dose can vary depending on the species of animal, the age and size of the animal, and the type and duration of exposure to radiation. Different animals also have different sensitivities to radiation, which can affect the lethal dose.

Are there differences in the Sievert lethal radiation dose for different types of radiation?

Yes, different types of radiation have different levels of energy and can affect different tissues in the body. Therefore, the Sievert lethal radiation dose may vary for different types of radiation, such as alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.

Can the Sievert lethal radiation dose for non-human animals be applied to humans?

No, the Sievert lethal radiation dose for non-human animals cannot be directly applied to humans. Humans have different sensitivities to radiation and different tissues that can be affected. However, the studies and experiments conducted on animals can provide valuable information for understanding the effects of radiation on humans.

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