RBE of quasi-monoenergetic 60 MeV neutron radiation for induction of dicentric chromosomes in human lymphocytes

Nolte, R.;Muhlbradt, KH;Meulders, Jean-Pierre;Stephan, G;Schmid, E;et.al.
(2005) Radiation and Environmental Biophysics — Vol. 44, n° 3, p. 201-209 (2005)

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Authors
  • Nolte, R.
    Author
  • Muhlbradt, KH
    Author
  • Meulders, Jean-PierreUCLouvain
    Author
  • Stephan, G
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  • Schmid, E
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Abstract
The production of dicentric chromosomes in human lymphocytes by high-energy neutron radiation was studied using a quasi-monoenergetic 60 MeV neutron beam. The average yield coefficient (alpha) over bar of the linear dose-response relationship for dicentric chromosomes was measured to be (0.146 +/- 0.016) Gy(-1). This confirms our earlier observations that above 400 keV, the yield of dicentric chromosomes decreases with increasing neutron energy. Using the linear-quadratic dose-response relationship for dicentric chromosomes established in blood of the same donor for Co-60 gamma-rays as a reference radiation, an average maximum low-dose RBE (RBEM) of 14 +/- 4 for 60 MeV quasi-monoenergetic neutrons with a dose-weighted average energy (E) over bar of 41.0 MeV is obtained. A correction procedure was applied, to account for the low-energy continuum of the quasi-monoenergetic spectral neutron distribution, and the yield coefficient alpha for 60 MeV neutrons was determined from the measured average yield coefficient (alpha) over bar. For alpha, value of (0.115 +/- 0.026) Gy(-1) was obtained corresponding to an RBEM of 11 +/- 4. The present experiments extend earlier investigations with monoenergetic neutrons to higher energies.
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Nolte, R., Muhlbradt, K., Meulders, J.-P., Stephan, G., Haney, M., & Schmid, E. (2005). RBE of quasi-monoenergetic 60 MeV neutron radiation for induction of dicentric chromosomes in human lymphocytes. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 44(3), 201-209. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-005-0021-4 (Original work published 2005)