Radiation dose measurement by electron spin resonance studies of tooth enamel in lime and non-lime consuming individuals from the Silchar region of northeast India.
Electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry of teeth is used extensively for dose estimation following exposure to radiation. The population inhabiting the northeast region of India is prone to different cancers of the head and neck, and their prevalence is several times the national average. The objective of this study was to determine the role of radiation in the causation of this high cancer incidence by performing ESR spectroscopic measurements of tooth samples collected from the general population living in and around the city of Silchar. Nineteen tooth samples were used, and the age of the patients was 13-60 years. The excess dose, determined by subtraction of the natural background dose from the dose absorbed by the enamel, was found to the extent of 123 +/- 43 mGy. However, the individual excess dose was found to be higher in subjects who consumed lime (5/6) than in non-lime-consuming subjects (2/13). It is not entirely clear if radiation is the cause of this excess cancer in this region of India. Therefore there is a need for wider studies including consideration of tobacco consumption as well as a larger number of samples for tooth enamel dosimetry.
Department of Radiation Biophysics, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Deborshi
D
Bhattacharjee
Alexander I
AI
Ivannikov
Kassym
K
Zhumadilov
Valeriy F
VF
Stepanenko
Kenichi
K
Tanaka
Satoru
S
Endo
Megu
M
Ohtaki
Shin
S
Toyoda
Joyeeta
J
Bhattacharyya
Masaharu
M
Hoshi
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D001822:Body Burden; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D017610:Calcium Compounds; D010087:Oxides; C016538:lime