A link between solar events and congenital malformations: Is ionizing radiation enough to explain it?

TL;DR

This study investigates whether ionizing radiation from solar events can explain congenital malformations, finding current radiation levels likely insufficient but suggesting further research into muon radiation effects.

Contribution

The paper combines computational simulations with epidemiological data to assess the role of cosmic ray-induced ionizing radiation in congenital malformations, highlighting the need for more muon radiation measurements.

Findings

Ionizing radiation from solar events is likely too low to cause malformations.

Current models underestimate muon radiation contributions.

Further research on muon effects is necessary.

Abstract

Cosmic rays are known to cause biological effects directly and through ionizing radiation produced by their secondaries. These effects have been detected in airline crews and other specific cases where members of the population are exposed to above average secondary fluxes. Recent work has found a correlation between solar particle events and congenital malformations. In this work we use the results of computational simulations to approximate the ionizing radiation from such events as well as longer term increases in cosmic ray flux. We find that the amounts of ionizing radiation produced by these events are insufficient to produce congenital malformations under the current paradigm regarding muon ionizing radiation. We believe that further work is needed to determine the correct ionizing radiation contribution of cosmogenic muons. We suggest that more extensive measurements of muon radiation effects may show a larger contribution to ionizing radiation dose than currently assumed.