title: The radiation dose from a proposed measurement of arsenic and selenium in human skin.
abstract: Dose measurements following 10 min irradiations with a portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer composed of a miniature x-ray tube and a silicon PiN diode detector were performed using thermoluminescent dosimeters consisting of LiF:Mg,Ti chips of 3 mm diameter and 0.4 mm thickness. The table-top setup of the spectrometer was used for all measurements. The setup included a stainless steel lid which served as a radiation shield. Two rectangular polyethylene skin/soft tissue phantoms with two cylindrical plaster of Paris bone phantoms were used to study the effect of x-ray beam attenuation and backscatter on the measured dose. Eight different irradiation experiments were performed. The average dose rate values measured with TLD chips within a 1 x 1 cm(2) area were between 4.8 and 12.8 mGy min(-1). The equivalent dose for a 1 x 1 cm(2) skin area was estimated to be 13.2 mSv. The maximum measured dose rate values with a single TLD chip were between 7.5 and 25.1 mGy min(-1). The effective dose corresponding to a proposed arsenic/selenium skin measurement was estimated to be 0.13 microSv for a 2 min irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Mount Allison University, 67 York Street, Sackville, NB E4L 1E6, Canada. mgherase@mta.ca
authors.forename: Mihai R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gherase
authors.forename: Joanna E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mader
authors.forename: David E B
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium; D001151:Arsenic