[Genetic hazards in a technological age (author's transl)].

Abstract

The maximal tolerable risk for mankind due to radiation and chemically induced mutations has been accepted as an increased mutation rate of 25%. A linear dose-effect relationship has been assumed and from the experimentally obtained mutation rate due to irradiation of mouse spermatogonia, the following risk factors were obtained: 1. The doubling dose for specific locus in the mouse is representative of recessive conditions. 2. The mutation rate depends on dose rate and fractionation of the irradiation. 3. The extrapolation factor for using these mammalial results in man is about 1.2. 4. The results of specific locus investigations are representative of all the mutation-types in a mouse that have been investigated. 5. Both sexes are similarly affected. On the above premises, a radiation dose of approximately 75 mrem per annum would increase the spontaneous mutation rate in man by about 9% per generation. The risk due to chemical mutagens should not exceed that due to radiation. Methods similar to those used for radiation risks are able to estimate the chemical risk to the population. The tolerable risk to the population from chemical mutagens depends partly on the radiation burden, but the extent of the chemical burden is unknown. This can only be estimated if the law provides for measurements of mutagenicity for drugs, food additives, biocydal agents and industrial chemicals. A risk analysis should be carried out for those chemo-mutagens which are essential. The chemical burden of all permitted mutagens should not exceed the spontaneous mutation rate by 10% per generation at the most. The human hereditory stock can be protected from irreparable damage only if one succeeds in establishing norms for the controlled use of chemical mutagens similar to the regulations which already exist for radiation protection.