Chromosome aberration analysis in persons exposed to low-level radiation from the JCO criticality accident in Tokai-mura.
Chromosome aberrations were studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 43 persons who were exposed to low-level radiation of mixed neutrons and gamma-rays resulting from the JCO criticality accident. When the age-adjusted frequencies of dicentric and ring chromosomes were compared with the dose calibration curve established in vitro for 60Co gamma-rays as a reference radiation, a significant correlation was observed between the chromosomally estimated doses and the documented doses evaluated by physical means. The regression coefficient of the chromosomal doses against the documented doses, 1.47 +/- 0.33, indicates that the relative biological effectiveness of fission neutrons at low doses is considerably higher than that currently adopted in the radiation protection standard.
Sasaki
M S
MS
Radiation Biology Center, Kyoto University, Japan.
Hayata
I
I
Kamada
N
N
Kodama
Y
Y
Kodama
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005214:Fast Neutrons / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000235:genetics; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness