title: Collective biodosimetry as a dosimetric "gold standard": a study of three radiation accidents.
abstract: Quantification of the biologically relevant dose is required for the establishment of cause-and-effect between radiation detriment or burden and important biological outcomes. Most epidemiological studies of unanticipated radiation exposure fail to establish cause and effect because of an inability to construct a valid quantification of dose for the exposed population. No one biodosimetric technique (biophysical or biological) meets all the requirements of an ideal dosimeter and thus qualify as a "gold standard." This report combines new results with previously published data in order to establish a collective biodosimetry as a dosimetric "gold standard" for the victims of three radiation accidents. Combining new and previously published data is necessary as execution and planning of a comprehensive dosimetry is rarely done at the initial stages of a radiation accident. The first subject was a fireman during the initial moments of the Chernobyl nuclear accident; the second was the victim of an unspecified occupational accident; and the third was exposed to a 60Co sterilization source. There was generally good agreement among the various biodosimetric techniques used for the three accident victims.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pass
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Baranov
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kleshchenko
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Aldrich
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Scallion
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D014455:Ukraine