title: Micronucleus determination as a means to assess radiation exposure.
abstract: Radiation accidents require an easy to perform and rapid determination of the radiation response of the victim(s) affected by the exposure. Micronuclei in cytochalasin B blocked lymphocytes are able to serve this purpose. Micronuclei are particularly useful when it comes to screening many exposed people after a more or less homogeneous whole body exposure with a high dose rate. There are problems, as is the case for most biological indicators, with partial body (especially when it is due to internal emitters), chronic and fractionated exposure.
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005214:Fast Neutrons / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes