LNTgate: How LNT benefited from editorial actions. (1st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calabrese, Edward J.; Giordano, James
• Is Part Of: Chemico-biological interactions. Volume 362(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01
• Subjects: Scientific misconduct -- Ethics -- LNT model -- Threshold model -- Scientific publication; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Toxicological chemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Toxicologie biochimique -- Périodiques; 572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.109979
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2797

Abstract

Abstract: This paper illustrates how the acceptance of the linear non-threshold (LNT) dose response model was unethically advocated and advanced both by key scientists within the radiation genetics community, and by editorial practices in Science, a leading international scientific journal. Four key papers became the cornerstones in the acceptance of the LNT model. In the publication process of these papers, editorial decisions to circumvent peer review occurred in at least two cases. As well, the summarized data of one paper were never shared with the scientific community and remain missing to date. Publication of a paper in Science on which a senior editor of the journal was a co-author is alleged to have intentionally falsified the research record (BEAR Genetics Panel). These findings raise the question of whether foundational papers for major contemporary regulatory policy (i.e., LNT/cancer risk assessment) that lack scientific legitimacy, as identified herein, should be retracted. These findings also should serve as the basis for considerable ethical concern, as well as a prompt for ongoing ethical diligence and rigor in the conduct and publication of scientific research. Highlights: Cancer risk assessment is dominated by the LNT model. Key LNT supportive manuscripts at Science were not peered-reviewed. The most significant LNT Science paper misrepresented the research record. Unethical editorial practices at Science enhanced LNT adoption.