Box plots representing dose estimates using the dicentric chromosomal assay performed on radiation therapy patients originating from a medical database are plotted against the H-ARS severity which was generated based on changes in blood cell counts stored at a database comprising clinical data of irradiated, radiation-accident patients following the METREPOL (MEdical TREatment ProtocOLs) approach (panel A). Radiation exposure characteristics must be considered when estimating health effects such as the H-ARS (panel B). It is hypothesized that biological changes, such as clinical signs and symptoms, gene and protein expression changes, have the potential to integrate those radiation exposure characteristics (as well as biological aspects, e.g., radiosensitivity, which is not shown here) and provide a simplified approach for effect prediction, but not dose estimation.