Development and inference of disability-adjusted life years attributable to prolonged radiation exposure based on the calculation method of radiation detriment

Radiation detriment is the basis for understanding radiation-induced cancer risk in the radiation protection system; however, it poses a challenge when compared with other risks because this index is unique to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). To address this challenge, a previous study attempted to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), an index used in public health, using Japanese population data and an early approach for cancer DALYs. This study further developed the calculation method by incorporating the latest estimation method for cancer burden in the Global Burden of Disease Study into the ICRP's methodology for calculating radiation detriment. Using public data from the ICRP, we newly calculated nominal DALYs and determined the characteristics of DALYs attributable to radiation exposure. Cancer DALYs attributable to prolonged exposure to 20 mSv y^-1from age 18-64 years (working-age), were also calculated. Nominal DALYs for the whole population were 1.12 DALYs per Gy per person for all solid cancers and bone marrow. The degree of impact of age-at-exposure on nominal DALYs by cancer site was higher than that on radiation detriment, except for the ovaries. Annual DALYs attributable to prolonged exposure to 20 mSv y^-1for working-age individuals were up to 0.020 DALYs per person per year by the age of 69 years for all solid cancers and bone marrow, and the lifetime DALYs were 0.66 DALYs per person. This study could be helpful for evidence-based policy- or decision-making aimed at a holistic approach.