Visualization of radiation dose by bioanalytical methods

Abstract

The quantitative evaluation of 'invisible' radiation exposure is essential to predict health effects and to provide appropriate medical care and evaluation concerning the prognosis of exposed persons. Because it is usually difficult to carry out physical dose measurements by dosimeters in the case of unexpected radiation exposure during accidents or disasters, post hoc dose evaluations using biological specimen of exposed people, called "biological dosimetry", is indispensable. Although many dose evaluation methods have been developed up to now, the cytogenetic method used to measure the chromosomal aberration frequency of lymphocytes is frequently used as the gold standard from the perspective of accuracy. In addition to that, in this manuscript several applicable dose evaluation methods using biological specimens, such as red blood cells, teeth, nucleic acids and small metabolites, are described and discussed. © 2014 The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.