Developing Novel Materials and New Techniques of Biological and Physical Retrospective Dosimetry for Affected Individuals in Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies

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Background

Retrospective dosimetry, using physical and biological dosimetry methods, estimates radiation doses received by an individual in the past. Due to an increasing threat of either radiological accidents or terrorist attacks using radioactive materials, the development of this research area has become extremely important. An accurate estimate of external doses of radiation to a victim from the materials available on the victim or from the victim's blood can enable urgent, proper and appropriate medical treatment. Based on an accurate dose estimate, the specification and application of adequate therapy for victims would be accelerated, and the efficiency of medical treatment and possibility of survival are increased. Therefore, improved complementary physical and biological measuring techniques with lower dose limits of received doses of radiation, dosimetric characterization of various suitable dosimeters, developed and validated victim dose estimation models, proposed standardized dosimetry protocols in most probable scenarios are necessary.

Up to now, physical methods of retrospective dosimetry have demonstrated promising dosimetric properties for certain materials (glass, alanine, sugar, plastic, silicate, tobacco, etc.) however, for practical use it is essential to characterize dosimetric properties of these materials and lower the detection limits of physical methods. The detection limits should be at levels for which health effects are possible, but lower than the dose value (8Gy) for which no survival is expected. Biological dosimetry using validated techniques currently requires fresh blood from the victim and the establishment of cell cultures which is a significant obstacle for rapid and immediate dose reconstruction. All biodosimetric methods require stability of aberrations with time following irradiation and knowledge of the background level. Biological approaches also open up the possibility of using a variety of emerging biodosimetry assays rooted in “omic” techniques (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics). These approaches are still under development and not yet standardized.

Moreover, the possibility of using samples of already established biobanks in which the assessment of damage was not determined on the fresh samples and offers the possibility for non-invasive simple sampling and samples sending to biodosimetry laboratories must be evaluated. This interdisciplinary research area connects tightly more scientific fields, researchers and infrastructure where assessments of a dose to a victim, from materials found on a victim and from their blood, could be performed in a relatively short period. Improvements in dose estimates would allow for victims to receive an efficient application of effective medical treatment and therapy, in turn increasing survival rates.

This Research Topic welcomes:
-New materials for physical retrospective dosimetry (OSL, TL, EPR);
-Improved detection limits;
-Calibration curves for biodosimetry methods;
-Intercomparison of different biodosimetry assays;
-Simulation of real case radiological or nuclear emergency scenarios;
-Intercomparsion of physical and biodosimetry methods;
-Expanding the application of physical and biodosimetric methods;
-Standardization of dose reconstruction protocols in unplanned excessive irradiation;
-Harmonization in the procedure and estimation of victim doses;
-Establishing reliable calibration curves using different dose evaluation models;
-Establishing a reliable mathematical model that can be used to develop a model for accurate dose estimation and compared with physical dosimetry and other laboratory models.

Keywords: Radiological emergencies, Nuclear emergencies, Stimulated luminescence, Electron spin resonance, Biological dosimetry, Radiological risk assessment PCC, H2AX, DCA, CBMN, FISH translocations, Gene expression, Emergency preparedness and response

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