The impact of cosmic-origin background radiation on human survival in the Czech Republic

Abstract

We evaluate the lifetime attributable risks induced by an increasing concentration of cosmic radiation and cosmogenic radionuclides during periods of low solar activity for the specific conditions in the Czech Republic. The concentration of cosmic radiation and cosmogenic radionuclides reaches its highest values during the solar minima when the Earth’s magnetosphere is more penetrable. The computed estimate of lifetime attributable risks from solid neoplasms (colon, lung, and stomach) induced by doses of natural background radiation is higher for the period of low activity in solar cycle No. 24 than for the forced solar activity in the previous solar cycle Nos. 19-23. We estimated the lifetime attributable risks induced by the annual dose of natural background radiation by sex for the Czech Republic and the USA. In addition, three different scenarios based on dose radiation level were explored. The cosmogenic radionuclides in our environment may thus play a greater role than in the last decades.