Of Men and Mice: Using Terrestrial Radiation Epidemiology Methods to Inform Analysis of Animal Models for Space Radiation Risk Assessment

• DOI: 10.1667/rade-22-00176.1
• Publication Date: 2023-05-22T14:16:24Z
• Authors: Lori J. Chappell; Katherine M. Rahill; S. Robin Elgart
• Keywords: Relative biological effectiveness; Space Radiation; Background radiation

Prediction of cancer risk from space radiation exposure is critical to ensure spaceflight crewmembers are adequately informed the risks they face when accepting assignments ambitious long-duration exploratory missions. Although epidemiological studies have assessed effects terrestrial radiation, no robust humans exposed exist support estimates exposure. Mouse data derived recent irradiation experiments provides valuable information successfully develop mouse-based excess models for assessing relative biological effectiveness heavy ions that can provide scale unique exposures so estimated be adjusted assessment. Bayesian analyses were used simulate linear slopes with several different effect modifiers attained age and sex. Relative values all-solid mortality calculated ratio heavy-ion slope gamma using full posterior distribution resulted in substantially lower than what currently applied These an opportunity improve characterization parameters current NASA Space Cancer Risk (NSCR) model generate new hypotheses future animal out-bred mouse populations.