Define Biodosimetry

• Since most victims of large mass casualty radiation emergencies would not be wearing personal dosimeters, other methods must be used to estimate the dose they received.
• Biodosimetry
  • The use of physiological, chemical or biological markers of exposure of human tissues to ionizing radiation for the purpose of reconstructing doses to individuals or populations. (Adapted from Radiation Dose Reconstruction: Principles and Practices, NCRP Report No. 163, page 182, Bethesda, MD, 2009)
  • A tool used to assess the likelihood of developing the Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) and its clinical severity.
  • A clinical observation or laboratory result that correlates with the approximate radiation dose estimated to have produced that effect.
  • Not a direct, real-time reading of dose such as would be measured by a radiation survey meter or personal dosimeter.
• Units of measure for dose received
  • After external exposure: gray (or rad) and sievert (or rem)
  • After internal contamination: various units including Committed Effective Dose Equivalent (CEDE)
  • After both external exposure and internal contamination: various units including Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE)
• Three tables comparing biodosimetry assays
  1. Cytogenetic aberration assays used for dose assessment (PDF - 64 KB),
     adapted from Cytogenetic Dosimetry: Applications in Preparedness for and Response to Radiation Emergencies, Table 1, page 3, (IAEA, PAHO, WHO, September 2011)
  2. Summary of advantages and disadvantages of existing and developing techniques for assessment of radiation exposure levels,
     adapted from High dose radiation effects and tissue injury, Report of the Independent Advisory Group on Ionising Radiation, Table 4.4, page 41 (Health Protections Agency, UK, March 2009) (PDF - 865 KB).
  3. Comparison of retrospective dosimetry assays (PDF - 97 KB),
     adapted from Ainsbury EA, Bakhanova E, Barquinero JF, et al., Review of retrospective dosimetry techniques for external ionising radiation exposure. Table 1, Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2011; 147(4):573-92. Epub 2010 Dec 23. [PubMed Citation]

See Biodosimetry reference list

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