Gamma-ray and neutron dosimetry by EPR and AMS, using tooth enamel from atomic-bomb survivors: a mini review

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry 2012-03, Vol.149 (1), p.79-83
• Main Authors: Nakamura, Nori, Hirai, Yuko, Kodama, Yoshiaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chromosome Aberrations; Dental Enamel - radiation effects; Dosimetry; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Gamma Rays; Humans; Mass Spectrometry; Neutrons; Nuclear Weapons; Particle Accelerators; Radiometry; Reviews; Survivors
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncr478

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR, or electron spin resonance) method was used to measure CO₂⁻· radicals recorded in tooth enamel by exposure to atomic-bomb gamma rays. The EPR-estimated doses (i.e. ⁶⁰Co gamma-ray equivalent dose) were generally in good correlation with cytogenetic data of the same survivors, whereas plots of EPR-estimated dose or cytogenetically estimated dose against DS02 doses turned out to scatter more widely. Because those survivors whose EPR doses were higher (or lower) than DS02 doses tended to show also higher (or lower) responses for cytogenetic responses, the apparent variation appears primarily due to problems in individual DS02 doses rather than the measurement errors associated with the EPR or cytogenetic technique. A part of the enamel samples were also used for evaluation of neutron doses by measuring ⁴¹Ca/⁴⁰Ca ratios using the accelerator mass spectrometry technique. The results for the measured ratios were on average ~85 % of the calculated ratios by DS02 (but within the 95 % confidence bounds of the simulated results), which lends support to DS02-derived neutron doses to the survivors.