Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 6, December 1997

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Collective Radiation Biodosimetry for Dose Reconstruction of Acute Accidental Exposures: A Review

Barry Pass

Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract
Quantification of the biologically relevant dose is required to establish cause and effect between radiation detriment or burden and important biological outcomes. Most epidemiologic studies of unanticipated radiation exposure fail to establish cause and effect because researchers have not been able to construct a valid quantification of dose for the exposed population. However, no one biodosimetric technique (biophysical or biological) meets all the requirements of an ideal dosimeter. This paper reviews how the collection of biodosimetric data for victims of radiation accidents can be used to create a dosimetric "gold standard." Particular emphasis is placed on the use of electron spin resonance, a standard for radiation accident dosimetry. As an example of this technique, a review will be presented of a previously reported study of an individual exposed to a 60Co sterilization source. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 6):1397-1402 (1997)

Key words: radiation, collective dosimetry, electron spin resonance, ESR, dental enamel, chromosome aberrations, cytokinetics, biodosimetry, dose reconstruction, Chernobyl

This paper is based on a presentation at the International Conference on Radiation and Health held 3-7 November 1996 in Beer Sheva, Israel. Abstracts of these papers were previously published in Public Health Reviews 24(3-4):205-431 (1996). Manuscript received at EHP 18 April 1997; accepted 20 August 1997.

Address correspondence to Dr. B. Pass, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5. Telephone: (902) 494-1405. Fax: (902) 494-2527. E-mail: Barry.Pass@dal.ca

Abbreviations used: ESR, electron spin resonance; OSL, optically stimulated luminescence; TL, thermoluminescence.

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