Biological dosimetry by chromosome analysis

"Radiation and Risk", 1996, vol. 7, pp. 72-75

Authors

Isamu Hayata
National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Japan

Abstract

In the work, based on the analysis of literature data, the information content and accuracy of cytogenetic methods for determining the absorbed doses of ionizing radiation are evaluated. It is concluded that the range of doses that can be determined using chromosome analysis lies between 0.2–0.3 and 6–8 Gy in the case of acute x-ray or gamma-irradiation. An accurate dose assessment can be performed within three months after irradiation. The frequency of unstable type aberrations (dicentrics and rings) drops rapidly over two years and it is difficult to record them after that. Theoretically, doses can be estimated by analyzing stable-type aberrations (translocation) using the special staining method (FISH-method) in the case of irradiation more than two years ago or chronic irradiation. The necessity of introducing automated cytogenetic analysis systems is emphasized, since counting aberrations at doses below 0.2–0.3 Gy requires a considerable amount of work. It is also necessary to define a standard dose-response curve for the FISH method.

Key words
Evaluation of information content, accuracy of cytogenetic methods, determination of absorbed doses, ionizing radiation, chromosomal analysis, translocation, frequency of aberrations, cytogenetic analysis.

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