Epidemiological studies on radiation exposure and health

Radiation epidemiology investigates the effects on human health of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Of particular interest is the carcinogenicity of radiation exposure. In Germany, numerous epidemiological studies on these topics have been conducted in the recent past, many of them in international collaboration. For example, studies assessing cancer risk in children living near nuclear installations, as well as a large case-control study on the risk of mobile telephone use and investigations on the UV radiation - skin cancer link have been performed. Medical practitioners are responsible for the practical implementation of radiation protection, especially in medical diagnostics and therapy. In addition, practitioners require knowledge of radiation health effects for consultation with their patients. This article provides an overview of the fundamentals of radiation epidemiology and of major radiation epidemiology studies in Germany. © 2006 Springer Medizin Verlag.