Retrospective Reconstruction of Radiation Doses of Chernobyl Liquidators by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
Abstract
Accurate, reliable dose reconstruction is a critical component in the epidemiological followup of liquidators. Dosimetry of teeth by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is a state of the art laboratory technique that is key to this effort. The Scientific Center of Radiation Medicine (SCRM) has developed and refined this technique in order to meet the practical demands of large scale epidemiologic followup of the Chernobyl liquidators. Independent analysis using similar technology was performed by investigators at the University of Utah and showed good correlation with the SCRM results. The lower limit of detection for reliable dose reconstruction was 100 mGy. Techniques were applied to samples from approximately 135 liquidators involved in cleanup activities within the first 2 years after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Mean dose was 287 mGy, geometric mean was 205 mGy, and median dose value was 200 mGy. The reconstructed dose values range from 30 to 2220 mGy. Correlation of results between the two institutions was generally within 17%. This report also addresses some confounding factors (previous medical x-ray exposures, ultraviolet light effects on anterior teeth, nonlinearity of dose response curves below 100 mGy) and how to deal with them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA337507
Entities
People
- I. A. Likhtarev
- L. F. Pasalskaya
- S. S. Sholom
- V. V. Chumak
- Y. V. Pavlenko
Organizations
- National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine