COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF 50 KVP AND 250 KVP X RAYS ON THE DOG

Technical Report · Thu Jan 24 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4717376

Baum, S J; Alpen, E L

The subject of relative biological effectiveness of various ionizing radiations has been difficult and vexing to handle meaningfully when tissue distribution of dose is not uniform. It has been suggested by some that problems relating to linear energy transfer in tissues should appropriately be divided into two components, that relating to macroscopic energy distribution and that relating to energy distribution in terms of individual ionizing events. The former effect was evaluated by looking at the biological potency of a lower energy x-ray source (50 Kvp) in the dog. Previously it was shown that no single dose parameter is adequate to express the biological potency of lower energy x rays, although it was suggested that, to the extent that it was possible to measure it, the dose to the critical organ, usually bone marrow, would be the most significant. Further studies were completed on dogs exposed to high doses of x radiation from a 50 Kvp beryllium window generator. Doses of 4000 to 10.000 rad (air) at the potential midline of the subject were shown to be as effective as doses of 200 to 300 rad of 250 Kvp x rays. Hematological comparisons of the two radiations show close correlation with mortality and a relative potency factor of 1/30 for the lower energy radiation. The lethal dose of 50 Kvp x rays for the dog is 7500 r (air). Serious lesions of the skin were seen as a complicating factor at all doses in excess of 4000 r (air). Dosimetry was done in tissue equivalent wax phantoms using the rotational exposure method. Phantom depth dose measurements with miniature ion chambers and chemical dosimetry in agar gels yielded essentially identical values of 3% for midline tissue dose. (auth)

• Research Organization: Naval Radiological Defense Lab., San Francisco
• NSA Number: NSA-17-017767
• OSTI ID: 4717376
• Report Number(s): USNRDL-TR-616
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD
BONE MARROW
CHEMICAL RADIATION DETECTORS
DISTRIBUTION
DOGS
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
LETHAL DOSE
MEASURED VALUES
MOCKUP
PARAFFIN
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION SOURCES
SKIN
TISSUES
X RADIATION