Chromosome Aberrations as a Dosimetric Technique for Fission Neutrons over the Dose-range 0·2-50 Rad

Abstract

An analysis of the literature shows a lack of data about basic biological parameters regarding cytogenetic dosimetry as applied to neutron fields, in the dose range below 50 rad. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes were exposed in vitro to a degraded fission neutron spectrum of mean energy 0.4 MeV. The dose-range was 0.2--50 rad delivered at a dose-rate of about 0.2 or 7 rad/min. The results were processed using a computer programme. Both experimental data for dicentric induction, and theoretical considerations indicate the first-order polynomial as the best fitting dose--response function. The implications of these results for cytogenetic dosimetry are discussed. A comparison with 250 kV X-ray data in the same range gives an r.b.e. of 18.5 +/- 3.1.

An analysis of the distribution and dose response of chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes after in vitro exposure to137Cesium gamma radiation

“…With this in mind, calibration curves relating dicentric yield produced in vitro to the radiation dose received from various radiation sources have been established for purposes of biological dosimetry by the United Kingdom National Radiological Protection Board [13,14,22,23] and other labs [9,33,37]. Bender and Gooch [7] originally suggested that human lymphocyte dicentric chromosome aberration analysis could be a method of biological dosimetry for radiation.…”

Cytogenetic biodosimetry for accidental emergency irradiation exposure preparedness, in particular merit of the use of drug-induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) with calyculin A

“…(7) in vivo arrested peripheral lymphocytes lives over several years in the body (Buckton et al, 1967;Bogen, 1993;McLean and Michie, 1995), some population of lymphocytes live over 10 years in vivo (Awa, 1991), therefore it promises to estimate doses for long time since the exposure event (Ramalho et al, 1995), (8) Induction of chromosome aberration is highly sensitive to ionizing irradiation and well dependent on exposed dose over wide range. The possible minimum estimation dose is known about 2-10 mGy for neutron exposure (Vulpis et al, 1978;IAEA, 2011) or 50-100 mGy for γ-ray exposure (IAEA, 2001;IAEA, 2011), which indicates that cytogenetic biodosimetry has a sufficient dose sensitivity for coverage both acute and chronic irradiation exposure. However, cytogenetic biodosimetry by means of chromosome preparation by the conventional mitotic blocking method use of colcemid has several drawbacks.…”

How radiation-specific is the dicentric assay?

“…such as irradiation temperature Gumrich et al, 1986 , type Ž of radiation Schmid et al, 1972Schmid et al, , 1974bTodorov, 1975;Bocian et al, 1977;Vulpis et al, 1978;Bauchinger et al, . 1983a;Takatsuji et al, 1983;Edwards et al, 1986 , dose-Ž rate Brewen and Luippold, 1971;Purrott and Reeder, 1976;Bauchinger et al, 1979;Lloyd et al, 1984;Fabry, .…”