Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of fission neutrons and gamma rays at occupational exposure levels: Volume 1, Studies on the genetic effects in mice of 60 equal once-weekly exposures to fission neutrons and gamma rays
The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values for low doses of fission neutrons compared to /sup 60/Co gamma rays were determined with four separate assessments of genetic damage induced in young hybrid male mice. Both radiations were delivered at low dose levels over about one-half the adult lifetime as 60 once-weekly exposures. Genetic damage assessed included both transient and residual injury. The latter is more critical, as residual genetic injury can be transmitted to subsequent generations long after the radiation exposures have ceased. Assays were performed periodically during the 60-week exposure period and at 10 or more weeks after the irradiations had terminated. RBE values, with few exceptions, ranged between 5 and 15 for transient injury and between 25 and 50 for different types of residual genetic injury. The most important form of residual genetic damage in this study was the balanced reciprocal chromosome translocation. These translocations continue to be transmitted throughout reproductive life and can lead to reduced fertility and increased prenatal mortality. The best estimate of the RBE value for translocations was 45 +- 10. Implications and recommendations with regard to the neutron quality factor will be presented conjointly with the findings from the data obtained in this same project on life shortening and on the risks of incidence or death from neoplastic disease. 64 refs., 23 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5754297
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-4704-Vol.1; ANL-86-33-Vol.1; ON: TI88003681; TRN: 88-003600
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COBALT 60
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GAMMA RADIATION
CARCINOGENESIS
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
GENETIC EFFECTS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
SIMULATION
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
FISSION NEUTRONS
LIFE SPAN
MICE
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
RADIOINDUCTION
RBE
SURVIVAL TIME
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COBALT ISOTOPES
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PATHOGENESIS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man