Retrospective radiation dosimetry using electron paramagnetic resonance in canine dental enamel.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) biodosimetry of human tooth enamel has been widely used for measuring radiation doses in various scenarios. We have now developed EPR dosimetry in tooth enamel extracted from canines. Molars and incisors from canines were cleaned by processing in supersaturated aqueous potassium hydroxide solution. The dosimetric signal in canine tooth enamel was found to increase linearly as a function of laboratory added dose from 0.44+/-0.02 to 4.42+/-0.22 Gy. The gamma radiation sensitivity of the canine molar enamel was found to be comparable to that of human tooth enamel. The dosimetric signal in canine enamel has been found to be stable up to at least 6 weeks after in vitro irradiation. A dosimetric signal variation of 10-25% was observed for canines ranging from in age 3 years to 16 year old.     

山羊牙釉质电子自旋共振的剂量学特性

目的 探讨山羊牙釉质电子自旋共振(ESR)的剂量学的特性.方法 采用机械和化学处理相结合的方法,制备5组不同年龄的山羊牙釉质样品.用137 Cs γ射线照射山羊牙釉质样品,使用ESR波谱仪测量辐射前和不同辐射剂量后不同牙釉质样品的ESR信号.结果 137Cs γ射线照射前,山羊牙釉质所固有的ESR本底信号平均值为21.5,明显低于人的平均本底强度水平39.5;与人牙釉质相同,山羊牙釉质照射后产生的剂量学信号的强度与照射剂量线性相关,5组100 mg山羊牙釉质样品,其剂量学峰的辐射灵敏度的平均值为(34.3±1.9)/Gy,与人牙釉质样品的辐射响应平均值36.3/Gy非常接近.结论 人类牙釉质样品缺乏时,可以用相同辐射环境中的山羊牙釉质作为替代品进行剂量重建,为正确地评价辐射事故剂量提供科学依据.

Abstract：

Objectlve To study the properties of goat tooth enamel electron spin resonance (ESR)dosimetry.Methods Tootll enamel samples of goats were achieved by combined mechanical and chemical treatment at the ages of l,2,3,5,and 6 years.respectively and 9 enamel samples of adult molar were obtained.These enamel samples were exposed to 137Cs γ-rays at the cumulative doses of 0,0.5,1.0,2.0,and 5.0 Gy,respectively.ESR spectra Was measured before and after exposure.Results The background signal of goat tooth samples W88 21.5,significantly lower than that of the adult molar samples(39.5).The dusimetric signal intensity of the goat enamel increased with the radiation dose in a linear manner just as that of the human molars.The average radiation sensitivity of the goat tooth samples was(34.3±1.9)/Gy,close to that of the human tooth samples.Conclusions Goat teeth can be used for retrospective radiation dose reconstruction when human teeth are unavailable,in order to previde scientific data for dose reconstruction accurately.     

Physically-based biodosimetry using in vivo EPR of teeth in patients undergoing total body irradiation

Purpose:?The ability to estimate individual exposures to radiation following a large attack or incident has been identified as a necessity for rational and effective emergency medical response. In vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of tooth enamel has been developed to meet this need.

Materials and methods:?A novel transportable EPR spectrometer, developed to facilitate tooth dosimetry in an emergency response setting, was used to measure upper incisors in a model system, in unirradiated subjects, and in patients who had received total body doses of 2 Gy.

Results:?A linear dose response was observed in the model system. A statistically significant increase in the intensity of the radiation-induced EPR signal was observed in irradiated versus unirradiated subjects, with an estimated standard error of dose prediction of 0.9?±?0.3 Gy.

Conclusions:?These results demonstrate the current ability of in vivo EPR tooth dosimetry to distinguish between subjects who have not been irradiated and those who have received exposures that place them at risk for acute radiation syndrome. Procedural and technical developments to further increase the precision of dose estimation and ensure reliable operation in the emergency setting are underway. With these developments EPR tooth dosimetry is likely to be a valuable resource for triage following potential radiation exposure of a large population.     

South Ural nuclear workers: Comparison of individual doses from retrospective EPR dosimetry and operational personal monitoring

As a result of EPR investigations on tooth enamel from radiation workers of the Russian nuclear facility “Mayak” in South Ural, individual doses are reconstructed. The individual doses obtained range up to 3.89 Gy. It is shown that the reconstructed doses are unreasonable until very good agreement with the original personal doses as provided by the radiation protection authority. The findings first prove the applicability of EPR dosimetry on tooth enamel for a life-time including accident dose reconstruction of individuals as a basis for epidemiological studies.     

Preliminary report on the development of a virtually nondestructive additive dose technique for EPR dosimetry.

We propose a new approach to the additive dose method in EPR dosimetry studies for tooth enamel specimens. We outline a specialized routine whereby the sample may be left for the most part unirradiated, while only a small aliquot of the sample will be additively irradiated to relatively large doses. The routine is done in such a way so as not to significantly compromise either precision or accuracy of the dose reconstruction. It is also demonstrated that the overall throughput of the dose reconstruction is not appreciably compromised. With this potential ability, the utility of an international dose/sensitivity standard for EPR dosimetry of teeth is considered.     

Comparison of sample preparation and signal evaluation methods for EPR analysis of tooth enamel.

In dose reconstruction by EPR dosimetry with teeth various methods are applied to prepare tooth enamel samples and to evaluate the dosimetric signal. A comparison of seven frequently used methods in EPR dosimetry with tooth enamel was performed. The participating Institutes have applied their own procedure to prepare tooth enamel samples and to evaluate the dosimetric signal. The precision of the EPR measurement and the dependence of the estimated dosimetric signal with irradiation up to 1000 mGy were compared. The obtained results are consistent among the different methods. The reproducibility of the dosimetric signal and its estimated relation with the absorbed dose was found to be very close for the applied methods with one possible exception.     

EPR dose reconstruction for bone-seeking 90Sr.

The results of the EPR dose reconstruction in calcified tissues of dog injected with 90Sr are presented. It has been established that there is no essential difference in the values of doses absorbed in tooth tissues of teeth in symmetric positions in the mouth, whereas a significant difference occurs in the values of absorbed doses in teeth in non-symmetric positions. In the case of 90Sr internal exposure the dose reconstruction in crown dentine plays an important role. It has been found that its quantity is close to the dose in diaphyseal cortical bone of the femur, dose at the endosteal bone surface and in femural fatty marrow. The fact that these values exceed doses absorbed in tooth enamel points out the predominant contribution of internal exposure. The highest absorbed doses have been observed in metaphyseal trabecular femur bones, tooth alveolar bone walls, and cortical and trabecular vertebra that can be considered as suitable candidates for biomarkers of internal 90Sr exposure for post-mortal autopsy. The satisfactory correlation has been found between the doses reconstructed in calcified dog tissues and the doses measured by EPR in alanine dosimeters fixed in (or nearby) the sites of autopsy of bones/teeth. The experiments provide support for the view that EPR retrospective dosimetry with calcified tissues for internal exposure is unique in providing useful information on the doses obtained.     

Parameters affecting EPR dose reconstruction in teeth.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the lower limit of detection (LLD), linearity of dose response, variation of radiation sensitivity between different tooth enamel samples, and time/temperature stability of EPR biodosimetry in tooth enamel. The theoretical LLD is shown to be 0.46 mGy, which is far lower than the measured value of about 30 mGy. The main issues to lowering LLD are the differentiation of the radiation-induced component against the total EPR spectrum and the complex nature of the dose dependence of the EPR signal. The following questions are also discussed in detail: need for exfoliated or extracted teeth from persons of interest, accounting for background radiation contribution; conversion of tooth enamel absorbed dose to effective dose; accounting for internal exposure specifically from bone-seeking radionuclides. Conclusions on future development of EPR retrospective biodosimetry are made.     

Aspects of retrospective ESR dosimetry (invited paper)

A review is given on the major technological and methodological aspects of retrospective ESR dosimetry with tooth enamel. Topics include the collection and preparation of samples, the evaluation, treatment and interpretation of the ESR signals, and the procedure of dose reconstruction. Two pathways are described to differentiate between doses from different internal and external sources. They are based on dose comparisons as evaluated from different tooth tissues or from dose vs age dependencies obtained by ESR dosimetry from populations with different exposure conditions. The concepts given are illustrated by recently achieved ESR doses that were reconstructed from teeth of radiation workers and members of the public of the Southern Urals region, Russia.     

The 3rd international intercomparison on EPR tooth dosimetry: Part 1, general analysis.

The objective of the 3rd International Intercomparison on Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Tooth Dosimetry was the evaluation of laboratories performing tooth enamel dosimetry below 300 mGy. Participants had to reconstruct the absorbed dose in tooth enamel from 11 molars, which were cut into two halves. One half of each tooth was irradiated in a 60Co beam to doses in the ranges of 30-100 mGy (5 samples), 100-300 mGy (5 samples), and 300-900 mGy (1 sample). Fourteen international laboratories participated in this intercomparison programme. A first analysis of the results and an overview of the essential features of methods applied in different laboratories are presented. The relative standard deviation of results of all methods was better than 27% for applied doses in the range of 79-704 mGy. In the analysis of the unirradiated tooth halves 8% of the samples were identified as outliers with additional absorbed dose above background dose.     

Separation of the contributions from gamma- and UV-radiation to the EPR spectra of tooth enamel plates.

Anisotropy of EPR spectra of tooth enamel plates irradiated with gamma-rays and UV light has been studied. UV-irradiated enamel plates exhibit a stronger anisotropy than gamma-irradiated plates. Investigation of samples cut out of different teeth and irradiated to different doses showed that the value of anisotropy is characteristic of each type of irradiation; it equals to approximately 0.35 for gamma- rays and 0.50 for UV light. It is suggested that the difference in the anisotropy values can be attributed to different relative amounts of oriented and disordered radicals produced by the two types of radiation. This can be used for separating gamma- and UV-contributions to the total EPR signal of a tooth exposed to both types of radiation.     

New computer procedure for routine EPR-dosimetry on tooth enamel: description and verification.

A software code was developed for fitting the EPR tooth enamel spectrum using linear combinations of Gaussian functions. The software is fastening EPR dose reconstruction for routine applications. The verification of the software was done comparing with the selective saturation method as an independent procedure of signal evaluation. Both methods were applied for the dose reconstruction of 13 teeth mostly from the Techa riverside. The evaluated doses by the two methods demonstrate an excellent agreement.     

用电子顺磁共振波谱拟合方法估算牙釉质辐射剂量

目的 探讨运用电子顺磁共振(electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR)波谱拟合技术估算牙釉质EPR辐射剂量的准确性。方法 编制多成分叠加型EPR粉末波谱拟合软件,分别拟合牙齿本底信号(background signal,BS)和辐照诱发信号(radiation-induced signal,RS)的EPR波谱模型,用波谱模型叠加计算方法拟合出实际辐照后牙釉质的EPR波谱,从复合谱中提取出RS成分并计算其相对强度,建立剂量响应曲线,估算样品剂量,并将剂量估算结果与传统的波谱强度测量方法进行比较。结果 拟合获得的BS信号为单峰高斯线形粉末谱,g=2.0035,线宽Hpp=0.650-1.100 mT; RS信号为轴对称多晶粉末谱线形,其g_⊥=2.0018,g_‖＝1.9965,线宽Hpp=0.335-0.400 mT;分离BS与RS后得到的RS相对强度与辐照剂量呈线性相关,剂量响应方程为:y=240.74x+76 724(R²=0.9947),剂量估算结果相对误差期望值为0.13。结论 EPR波谱拟合方法在一定程度上提高了牙釉质辐射剂量估计的准确性和可信度。     

嚼烟习俗地区的牙釉质电子自旋共振剂量学的研究

目的 研究嚼烟习俗对牙釉质电子自旋共振(ESR)剂量学的影响。方法 用机械方法获得20个孟买地区的舌侧牙釉质样品与10个混合均匀的日本人舌侧牙釉质样品。用⁶⁰Co γ射线分别照射部分牙釉质样品,使用ESR波谱仪测量辐射前和不同辐射剂量后牙釉质样品的ESR信号。结果 9个孟买牙釉质样品,其ESR的本底信号强度明显高于日本人的平均水平,为日本人水平的1.5~3.3倍。ESR本底信号强度较高的样品,γ射线照射后,剂量学信号的辐射响应略低,说明高本底可能降低了辐射剂量的灵敏度。6个样品辐射响应的平均值为(0.42±0.03)mGy,与日本牙釉质混合样品很相近。结论 嚼烟地区的部分牙釉质的ESR本底水平明显高于一般平均水平,可能是嚼烟中大量的烟碱与牙釉质相互作用的结果。进一步研究特殊生活习俗对牙釉质ESR剂量学的影响,有助于提高不同地区剂量重建的精度,为正确地评价辐射事故剂量提供科学依据。     

Application of EPR retrospective dosimetry for large-scale accidental situation.

Above 3000 tooth enamel samples, collected at population of radioactive contaminated territories after Chernobyl accident, the Chernobyl liquidators, the retired military of high radiation risk and the population of control radiation free territories were investigated by EPR spectroscopy method in order to obtain accumulated individual exposure doses. Results of EPR spectra measurements are stored in data bank; enamel samples are also stored in order to provide the possibility to repeat the measurements in future. Statistical analysis of results has allowed to detect the contribution into EPR signal in tooth enamel due to the action of the natural background radiation, and the radioactive contamination of territory. In general, the average doses of external exposure of the population obtained with EPR spectroscopy of teeth enamel are consistent with results based on other methods of direct and retrospective dosimetry. Essential exceeding of the individual doses above the average level within the population groups was observed for some persons. That gave the possibility to detect the individuals with overexposure, which were included into groups for medical monitoring.     

The Chernobyl accident: EPR dosimetry on dental enamel of children.

The radiation dose on tooth enamel of children living close to Chernobyl has been evaluated by EPR. The sample preparation was reduced to a minimum of mechanical steps to remove a piece of enamel. A standard X-ray tube at low energy was used for additive irradiation. The filtration effect of facial soft tissue was taken into account. The radiation dose for a group of teeth slightly exceeds the annual dose, whereas for another group the dose very much exceeds the annual dose. Since the higher dose is found in teeth whose enamel have much lower EPR sensitivity to the radiation, it can be suggested that for these teeth the native signal could alter the evaluation of the smaller radiation signal.     

ESR dosimetry of a deceased radiation worker

A case of overexposure of an industrial radiographer using ¹⁹²Ir sources and having a filmbadge dosimeter record of 104 mSv has been examined with ESR dosimetry of postmortem tooth and bone specimens. ESR measurements of the tooth enamel showed an intense signal of CO₂⁻ and gave the equivalent dose (ED) of 14 Gy by the additive dose method using γ-rays from a source of ⁶⁰Co. The doses for a finger bone and humerus were 14.7 and 7.0 Gy, respectively. It was concluded that he had been exposed to radiation repeatedly over 10 yr and that ESR dosimetry can give a life-long cumulative dose for personnel using radiation.     

Optimal registration conditions for tooth EPR dosimetry at low accumulated dose

The spectrum registration under rapid passage conditions (the second harmonic phase quadrature of the absorption signal) allows one to enhance substantially the sensitivity of tooth enamel and bone EPR dosimetry at a low accumulated dose. In the present work the dependencies of the radiation and background signals on EPR spectrometer parameters are described and the optimal conditions in RPM for EPR dosimetry are obtained.     

用牙釉电子自旋共振方法估算慢性辐射损伤人员的受照剂量

目的 用于牙釉电子自旋共振对慢性辐射损伤人员的受照剂量进行估算的方法。方法 用电子自旋共振仪测定慢性辐射损伤人员牙釉电子自旋共振信号强度，用剂量－效应曲线法和附加剂量法来重建辐射损伤人员的受照剂量，探讨牙釉电子自旋共振法估算受照剂量的可行性；并比较了不同能量的射线（1.25MeV的γ射线和6MeV的X射线）对牙釉电子自旋共振信号强度的影响。结果 用两种方法估算的辐射损伤人员受照剂量基本一致；对能量1.25MeV的γ射线和6MeV的X射线进行比较，无论从剂量－效应曲线的直线系数，还是用混合照射后的剂量估算，两者差别不大。结论 慢性辐射损伤人员的受照剂量可以用于牙釉电子自旋共振方法进行估算，射线能量在1.25MeV-6MeV范围内对牙釉电子自旋共振信号强度影响不大。     

EPR dosimetry with tooth enamel: A review

When tooth enamel is exposed to ionizing radiation, radicals are formed, which can be detected using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. EPR dosimetry using tooth enamel is based on the (presumed) correlation between the intensity or amplitude of some of the radiation-induced signals with the dose absorbed in the enamel. In the present paper a critical review is given of this widely applied dosimetric method. The first part of the paper is fairly fundamental and deals with the main properties of tooth enamel and some of its model systems (e.g., synthetic apatites). Considerable attention is also paid to the numerous radiation-induced and native EPR signals and the radicals responsible for them. The relevant methods for EPR detection, identification and spectrum analyzing are reviewed from a general point of view. Finally, the needs for solid-state modelling and studies of the linearity of the dose response are investigated. The second part is devoted to the practical implementation of EPR dosimetry using enamel. It concerns specific problems of preparation of samples, their irradiation and spectrum acquisition. It also describes how the dosimetric signal intensity and dose can be retrieved from the EPR spectra. Special attention is paid to the energy dependence of the EPR response and to sources of uncertainties. Results of and problems encountered in international intercomparisons and epidemiological studies are also dealt with. In the final section the future of EPR dosimetry with tooth enamel is analyzed.