Karen Davis

Bio: Karen Davis is an academic researcher from Health Protection Agency. The author has contributed to research in topics: European union. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 7 publications receiving 210 citations.

IMBA Professional Plus: a flexible approach to internal dosimetry.

Abstract: IMBA (Integrated Modules for Bioassay Analysis) is a suite of software modules that implement the current ICRP biokinetic and dosimetric models for estimation of intakes and doses. The IMBA modules have gone through extensive quality assurance, and are now used for routine formal dose assessment by Approved Dosimetry Services throughout the UK. HPA has continued to develop the IMBA modules. In addition, several projects, sponsored by organisations both in the USA and in Canada, have resulted in the development of customised user-friendly interfaces (IMBA Expert™ ‘editions’). These enable users not only to use the standard ICRP models, but also to change many of the parameter values from ICRP defaults, and to apply sophisticated data handling techniques to internal dose calculations. These include: fitting measurement data with the maximum likelihood method; using multiple chronic and acute intakes; and dealing with different data types, such as urine, faces and whole body simultaneously. These interfaces were improved further as a result of user-feedback, and a general ‘off-the-shelf’ product, IMBA Professional, was developed and made available in January 2004. A new version, IMBA Professional Plus, was released in April 2005, which is both faster and more powerful than previous software. The aim of this paper is to describe the capabilities of IMBA Professional Plus, and the mathematical methods used.

IMBA Expert: internal dosimetry made simple.

Abstract: In 1997, a collaboration between British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL), Westlakes Research Institute and NRPB started, with the aim of producing IMBA (Integrated Modules for Bioassay Analysis), a suite of software modules that implement the new ICRP models for estimation of intakes and doses This was partly in response to new UK regulations, and partly due to the requirement for a unified approach in estimating intakes and doses from bioassay measurements within the UK Over the past 5 years, the IMBA modules have been developed further, have gone through extensive quality assurance, and are now used for routine dose assessment by approved dosimetry services throughout the UK More recently, interest in the IMBA methodology has been shown by the United States Department of Energy (USDOE), and in 2001 an ambitious project to develop a software package (IMBA Expert USDOE Edition) which would meet the requirements of all of the major USDOE sites began Interest in IMBA Expert is now being expressed in many other countries The aim of this paper is to outline the origin and evolution of the IMBA modules (the past); to describe the full capabilities of the current IMBA Expert system (the present) and to indicate possible future directions in terms of capabilities and availability (the future)

Assessment of intakes and doses to workers followed for 15 years after accidental inhalation of 60CO.

Abstract: Intakes and doses are assessed for seven workers who accidentally inhaled particles containing Co in the same incident. Comprehensive whole body data to 15 y, and some early urine and fecal data, are available for each individual. The biokinetic and dosimetric models currently recommended by ICRP have been used to assess these cases. It was not possible to obtain good fits to the data using the ICRP models with their default parameter values. However, good fits to all the measurement data were obtained by varying parameter values following a procedure similar to that recommended in recently developed guidelines for assessment of internal doses from monitoring data. It was found that retention in the lungs was much longer than predicted by the ICRP Human Respiratory Tract Model, and so for each case it was necessary to reduce the particle transport clearance of material from the deep lungs. This reduction in lung clearance rates, and the use of specific AMAD values, were the dominating factors in changing assessed doses from those calculated using ICRP default values.

Coordination of research on internal dosimetry in Europe: the CONRAD project.

Abstract: The EUropean RAdiation DOSimetry Group (EURADOS) initiated in 2005 the CONRAD Project, a Coordinated Network for Radiation Dosimetry funded by the European Commission (EC), within the 6th Framework Programme (FP). The main purpose of CONRAD is to generate a European Network in the field of Radiation Dosimetry and to promote both research activities and dissemination of knowledge. The objective of CONRAD Work Package 5 (WP5) is the coordination of research on assessment and evaluation of internal exposures. Nineteen institutes from 14 countries participate in this action. Some of the activities to be developed are continuations of former European projects supported by the EC in the 5th FP (OMINEX and IDEAS). Other tasks are linked with ICRP activities, and there are new actions never considered before. A collaboration is established with CONRAD Work Package 4, dealing with Computational Dosimetry, to organise an intercomparison on Monte Carlo modelling for in vivo measurements of 241Am deposited in a knee phantom. Preliminary results associated with CONRAD WP5 tasks are presented here. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Application of IDEAS guidelines: the IDEAS/IAEA intercomparison exercise on internal dose assessment

Abstract: As part of the EU Fifth Framework Programme IDEAS project 'General Guidelines for the Evaluation of Incorporation Monitoring Data', and in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, a new intercomparison exercise for the assessment of doses from intakes of radionuclides was organised. Several cases were selected, to cover a wide range of practices in the nuclear fuel cycle and medical applications. The cases were: (1) acute intake of HTO, (2) acute inhalation of the fission products 137Cs and 90Sr, (3) acute inhalation of 60Co, (4) repeated intakes of 131I, (5) intake of enriched uranium and (6) single intake of Pu isotopes and 241Am. This intercomparison exercise especially focused on the effect of the Guidelines proposed by the IDEAS project for harmonisation of internal dosimetry.

ICRP Publication 130: Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides: Part 1.

Abstract: This report is the first in a series of reports replacing Publications 30 and 68 to provide revised dose coefficients for occupational intakes of radionuclides by inhalation and ingestion. The revised dose coefficients have been calculated using the Human Alimentary Tract Model (Publication 100) and a revision of the Human Respiratory Tract Model (Publication 66) that takes account of more recent data. In addition, information is provided on absorption into blood following inhalation and ingestion of different chemical forms of elements and their radioisotopes. In selected cases, it is judged that the data are sufficient to make material-specific recommendations. Revisions have been made to many of the models that describe the systemic biokinetics of radionuclides absorbed into blood, making them more physiologically realistic representations of uptake and retention in organs and tissues, and excretion. The reports in this series provide data for the interpretation of bioassay measurements as well as dose coefficients, replacing Publications 54 and 78. In assessing bioassay data such as measurements of whole-body or organ content, or urinary excretion, assumptions have to be made about the exposure scenario, including the pattern and mode of radionuclide intake, physical and chemical characteristics of the material involved, and the elapsed time between the exposure(s) and measurement. This report provides some guidance on monitoring programmes and data interpretation.

IMBA Professional Plus: a flexible approach to internal dosimetry.

Abstract: IMBA (Integrated Modules for Bioassay Analysis) is a suite of software modules that implement the current ICRP biokinetic and dosimetric models for estimation of intakes and doses. The IMBA modules have gone through extensive quality assurance, and are now used for routine formal dose assessment by Approved Dosimetry Services throughout the UK. HPA has continued to develop the IMBA modules. In addition, several projects, sponsored by organisations both in the USA and in Canada, have resulted in the development of customised user-friendly interfaces (IMBA Expert™ ‘editions’). These enable users not only to use the standard ICRP models, but also to change many of the parameter values from ICRP defaults, and to apply sophisticated data handling techniques to internal dose calculations. These include: fitting measurement data with the maximum likelihood method; using multiple chronic and acute intakes; and dealing with different data types, such as urine, faces and whole body simultaneously. These interfaces were improved further as a result of user-feedback, and a general ‘off-the-shelf’ product, IMBA Professional, was developed and made available in January 2004. A new version, IMBA Professional Plus, was released in April 2005, which is both faster and more powerful than previous software. The aim of this paper is to describe the capabilities of IMBA Professional Plus, and the mathematical methods used.

Low-solubility particles and a Trojan-horse type mechanism of toxicity: the case of cobalt oxide on human lung cells

Abstract: The mechanisms of toxicity of metal oxide particles towards lung cells are far from being understood. In particular, the relative contribution of intracellular particulate versus solubilized fractions is rarely considered as it is very challenging to assess, especially for low-solubility particles such as cobalt oxide (Co3O4). This study was possible owing to two highly sensitive, independent, analytical techniques, based on single-cell analysis, using ion beam microanalysis, and on bulk analysis of cell lysates, using mass spectrometry. Our study shows that cobalt oxide particles, of very low solubility in the culture medium, are readily incorporated by BEAS-2B human lung cells through endocytosis via the clathrin-dependent pathway. They are partially solubilized at low pH within lysosomes, leading to cobalt ions release. Solubilized cobalt was detected within the cytoplasm and the nucleus. As expected from these low-solubility particles, the intracellular solubilized cobalt content is small compared with the intracellular particulate cobalt content, in the parts-per-thousand range or below. However, we were able to demonstrate that this minute fraction of intracellular solubilized cobalt is responsible for the overall toxicity. Cobalt oxide particles are readily internalized by pulmonary cells via the endo-lysosomal pathway and can lead, through a Trojan-horse mechanism, to intracellular release of toxic metal ions over long periods of time, involving specific toxicity.

Modelling particle retention in the alveolar–interstitial region of the human lungs

Abstract: Better information is available now on long-term particle retention in the human lungs than there was in 1994, when the human respiratory tract model (HRTM) was adopted by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Three recent studies are especially useful because they provide such information for groups of people who inhaled very similar aerosols. For all three the HRTM significantly underestimates lung retention of insoluble material. The purpose of this work was to improve the modelling of long-term retention in the deep lung. A simple physiologically based model developed to predict lung and lymph node particle retention in coal miners was found to represent lung retention in these studies adequately. Instead of the three alveolar-interstitial (AI) compartments in the HRTM, it has an alveolar compartment which clears to the bronchial tree and to a second compartment, representing the interstitium, which clears only to lymph nodes. The main difference from the HRTM AI model is that a significant fraction of the AI deposit is sequestered in the interstitium. To obtain default parameter values for general use, the model was fitted to data from the three recent studies, and also the experimental data used in development of the HRTM to define particle transport from the AI region for the first year after intake. The result of the analysis is that about 40% of the AI deposit of insoluble particles is sequestered in the interstitium and the remaining fraction is cleared to the ciliated airways with a half-time of about 300 days. For some long-lived radionuclides in relatively insoluble form (type S), this increased retention increases the lung dose per unit intake by 50-100% compared to the HRTM value.