title: EPR pilot study on the population of Stepnogorsk city living in the vicinity of a uranium processing plant.
abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate possible doses in teeth received by workers of a uranium processing plant, in excess to the natural background dose. For this, the electron paramagnetic resonance dosimetry method was applied. Absorbed doses in teeth from the workers were compared with those measured in teeth from the Stepnogorsk city population and a control pool population from Astana city. The measured tooth samples were extracted according to medical indications. In total, 32 tooth enamel samples were analyzed, 5 from Astana city, Kazakhstan (control population), 21 from the residents of Stepnogorsk city (180 km from Astana city), and 6 from the workers of a uranium processing plant. The estimated doses in tooth enamel from the uranium processing plant workers were not significantly different to those measured in enamel from the control population. In teeth from the workers, the maximum dose in excess to background dose was 33 mGy. In two teeth from residents of Stepnogorsk city, however, somewhat larger doses were measured. The results of this pilot study encourage further investigations in an effort to receiving a final conclusion on the exposure situation of the uranium processing plant workers and the residents of Stepnogorsk city.
authors.affiliation: L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Munaitpasova Str., 13, Astana, 010008, Kazakhstan. kassymzh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kassym
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhumadilov
authors.affiliation: Medical Radiological Research Center, Korolyov Str., 4, Obninsk, 249036, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivannikov
authors.affiliation: Medical Radiological Research Center, Korolyov Str., 4, Obninsk, 249036, Russia.
authors.forename: Valeriy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stepanenko
authors.affiliation: Semey State Medical University, Abaya Str., 103, Semey, 071400, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Sholpan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abralina
authors.affiliation: Semey State Medical University, Abaya Str., 103, Semey, 071400, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Lyazzat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sadvokasova
authors.affiliation: L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Munaitpasova Str., 13, Astana, 010008, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Abdirash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akilbekov
authors.affiliation: L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Munaitpasova Str., 13, Astana, 010008, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Aidar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morzabayev
authors.affiliation: Semey State Medical University, Abaya Str., 103, Semey, 071400, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Tolebay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rakhypbekov
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002947:Cities; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D007623:Kazakhstan; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D014501:Uranium
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium