Eisenia fetida were exposed continuously to (60)Co gamma radiation during two generations (F(0) and F(1)). Adult F(0) reproduction capacity (i.e., number of cocoons produced, hatchability and number of F(1) hatchlings) in controls and at five dose rates (0.18, 1.7, 4, 11 and 43 mGy/h) was measured over a 13-week exposure period. Survival, growth and sexual maturation of F(1) hatchlings were observed for 11 weeks. F(1) adults were exposed for a further 13 weeks to determine their reproduction capacity. There was no radiation-induced effect on the cocoon production rate in either F(0) or F(1). For F(0), hatchability of cocoons produced during the first 4 weeks was reduced to 60% at 43 mGy/h (98% in controls), and none of the cocoons produced at 5-13 weeks hatched. At 11 mGy/h the cocoon hatchability was reduced to 25% at 9-13 weeks. In addition, the number of hatchlings per hatched cocoon was reduced at 11 and 43 mGy/h. Correspondingly, at these dose rates, the total number of F(1) hatchlings per adult F(0) was significantly lower than in the control. This number was also reduced at 4 mGy/h, but the effect was of borderline significance. For adult F(1), the hatchability of cocoons at 11 mGy/h was reduced to 45-69% during the 13-week exposure period. The number of hatchlings (F(2)) per cocoon and the total number of F(2) individuals produced was also reduced. However, and in contrast to the results observed for F(0), hatchability increased with time, suggesting a possible acclimatization or adaptation of the F(1) individuals. In conclusion, chronic irradiation reduced the reproduction capacity of E. fetida, but extensive exposure periods (13 weeks) were needed for these effects to be expressed. The lowest dose rates at which an effect was observed were 4 mGy/h in F(0) and 11 mGy/h in F(1).
The results of an unprecedented international effort involving 26 countries are reported. The EUROMET.RI(I)-K1 and EUROMET.RI(I)-K4 key comparisons were conducted with the goal of supporting the relevant calibration and measurement capabilities (CMC) planned for publication by the participant laboratories. The measured quantities were the air kerma (Kair) and the absorbed dose to water (Dw) in 60Co radiotherapy beams. The comparison was conducted by the pilot laboratory MKEH (Hungary), in a star-shaped arrangement from January 2005 to December 2008. The calibration coefficients of four transfer ionization chambers were measured using two electrometers. The largest deviation between any two calibration coefficients for the four chambers in terms of air kerma and absorbed dose to water was 2.7% and 3.3% respectively. An analysis of the participant uncertainty budgets enabled the calculation of degrees of equivalence (DoE), in terms of the deviations of the results and their associated uncertainties. As a result of this EUROMET project 813 comparison, the BIPM key comparison database (KCDB) will include eleven new Kair and fourteen new Dw DoE values of European secondary standard dosimetry laboratories (SSDLs), and the KCDB will be updated with the new DoE values of the other participant laboratories. The pair-wise degrees of equivalence of participants were also calculated. In addition to assessing calibration techniques and uncertainty calculations of the participants, these comparisons enabled the experimental determinations of NDw/NKair ratios in the 60Co gamma radiation beam for the four radiotherapy transfer chambers.Main text.
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Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI Section I, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
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