Gender & Radiation

Gender and Ionizing Radiation: Towards a New Research Agenda Addressing Disproportionate Harm, by Amanda Nichols and Mary Olsen. Key takeaway: in 2011 Mary Olson made a finding in data published by the US National Academy of Science (NAS) in 2006 that radiation exposure is more harmful to females compared to males. The new report confirms the finding in an additional 40+ peer-reviewed papers published after 2006.The detonation of a nuclear weapon in a populated area would cause devastating harm. It can kill thousands of people instantly, whether through the explosion itself or through the intense heat and high levels of radiation. The mid- and long-term consequences from radiation exposure are less well understood, in part because they manifest differently for male and female survivors. This report provides an overview of recent research on the correlation between harm from exposure to ionizing radiation and biological sex. Additionally, it proposes questions for a future research agenda covering gender, radiation impacts and radiological protection standards.