RESUMO
Human blood was irradiated with accelerated ions: 20 MeV 4He, 425 MeV 12C and 1480 MeV and 996 MeV 16O. For each ion, the blood was exposed to a range of doses as thin specimens in the track segment mode, so that irradiations took place at nearly constant LETs of 31.4, 61, 52 and 69 keV microm(-1), respectively. Lymphocytes were cultured to the first in vitro metaphase, analysed for chromosomal damage and the dicentric aberration frequencies fitted to the linear quadratic model of dose-response. For these high LET radiations, the linear (alpha) yield coefficient predominated and increased with LET, at least up to 60 keV microm(-1). Apart from the 996 MeV oxygen ions, the data indicated the presence of a quadratic (beta) coefficient, statistically consistent with values obtained with low LET radiations. However, the associated uncertainties on the measured beta values were large, illustrating the general problem that beta is more difficult to measure against a dominating and ever-increasing alpha term. The existence or otherwise of a beta component of the dose-response at these radiation qualities has important consequences for modelling mechanisms of aberration induction by radiation.
Assuntos
Aberrações Cromossômicas , Linfócitos/efeitos da radiação , Oxigênio , Prótons , Relação Dose-Resposta à Radiação , Íons Pesados , Humanos , Transferência Linear de Energia , Linfócitos/sangue , Metáfase , Aceleradores de Partículas , Eficiência Biológica RelativaRESUMO
The variations of dose response with X ray energy observed with the human lymphocyte dicentric assay is examined. In order to determine reliably the initial slopes (RBEm) many cells need to be analysed at low doses. Insufficient analysis may explain some reported interlaboratory differences in fitted dose-response coefficients. One such discrepancy at 150 kVp, E = 70 keV is examined. Data are also presented for an X ray spectrum of 80 kVp, E = 58 keV. Over the photon energy range 20 keV X rays to 1.25 MeV gamma rays RBEm varies by about a factor of 5, with the lower energies being more effective. This is consistent with microdosimetric theory. By contrast, in radiological protection a radiation weighting factor of 1.0 is assumed for all photons when assessing the risk of inducing cancer at low doses. The measured variations of biological effect with photon energy have led to suggestions that the lower energies, as used for some diagnostic radiology, carry a greater risk per unit dose than is normally assumed by those involved in radiological protection. Interpretation of the data reported in this paper does not support this view.