Showing papers by "Elizabeth A. Ainsbury published in 2012"
TL;DR: Although further work is desirable to quantify better the risk at low doses and following protracted exposures, along with research into the mechanistic basis for radiation cataractogenesis to inform selection of risk projection models, the HPA endorses the conclusion reached by the ICRP in their 2011 statement that the equivalent dose limit should be reduced from 150 to 20 mSv per year.
Abstract: This paper presents the response of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to the 2011 statement from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) on tissue reactions and recommendation of a reduced dose limit for the lens of the eye. The response takes the form of a brief review of the most recent epidemiological and mechanistic evidence. This is presented together with a discussion of dose limits in the context of the related risk and the current status of eye dosimetry, which is relevant for implementation of the limits. It is concluded that although further work is desirable to quantify better the risk at low doses and following protracted exposures, along with research into the mechanistic basis for radiation cataractogenesis to inform selection of risk projection models, the HPA endorses the conclusion reached by the ICRP in their 2011 statement that the equivalent dose limit for the lens of the eye should be reduced from 150 to 20 mSv per year, averaged over a five year period, with no year's dose exceeding 50 mSv.
75 citations
TL;DR: The results of a feasibility cytogenetic study using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) translocation assay for residents of villages located on the Techa River contaminated with liquid radioactive wastes from the Mayak plutonium facility in 1949–1956 are presented.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of a feasibility cytogenetic study using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) translocation assay for residents of villages located on the Techa River (Southern Urals, Russia) contaminated with liquid radioactive wastes from the Mayak plutonium facility in 1949–1956. The study was conducted with two groups of donors that differed in their main pathways of exposure. The first group comprised 18 residents of the middle Techa region who were exposed predominantly from ingestion of radionuclides (mostly 89,90Sr) via the river water and local foodstuffs. The second group included 20 residents of Metlino, the closest village to the site of releases, who were exposed to external γ radiation from the contaminated river bank and exposed internally from dietary intake of radionuclides. A significant linear dependence between the radiation-induced translocation frequency and individual red bone marrow dose from incorporated 89,90Sr, calculated with the Techa River Dosimetry S...
18 citations
01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: The results obtained up to now within the MULTIBIODOSE project are very promising for the application of the dicentric assay in triage mode as a high throughput scoring strategy for biodosimetry in case of large scale accidents by a network of eight collaborating laboratories throughout Europe.
Abstract: Introduction: Mass casualty scenarios of radiation accidents require high throughput techniques of biological dosimetry for population triage to identify individuals for whom clinical treatment is indicated. To this end the dicentric assay in a triage mode is a very suitable technique. Within the MULTIBIODOSE EU FP7 project a network of eight biodosimetry laboratories has been established with expertise in dose estimations based on the dicentric assay. Results: In the first task the conventional dicentric assay was tested in the triage mode. Three types of irradiation scenarios were included: acute whole body, partial body and protracted exposure. Blood samples from 33 healthy donors (> 10 donors / scenario) were irradiated in vitro with gamma rays, simulating the 3 different types of exposure and the 3 different doses. All the blood samples were irradiated at the University of Gent, Belgium, and then shipped to the participating laboratories. The dose estimates of acute whole body exposure show a good agreement with actual radiation doses (0.5, 2.0 and 4.0 Gy) for all labs. Most labs could identify correctly the partial body doses at 4 and 6 Gy, but this was not possible at 2 Gy and indicates a need for more cells to be analysed. After protracted exposure, all labs performed these dose estimations well and attained good results at 1.0 and 2.0 Gy. Conclusions: The results obtained up to now within the MULTIBIODOSE project are very promising for the application of the dicentric assay in triage mode as a high throughput scoring strategy for biodosimetry in case of large scale accidents by a network of eight collaborating laboratories throughout Europe.
11 citations