Authors: E Schmid D Schlegel S Guldbakke RP Kapsch D Regulla
Publish Date: 2003/07/03
Volume: 42, Issue: 2, Pages: 87-94
Abstract
We examined the induction of dicentric chromosomes in human lymphocytes irradiated in vitro with nearly monoenergetic neutrons at energies in the range of 36 keV–150 MeV For the assessment of the relative biological effectiveness RBE both 220 kV xrays and 60Co γrays were used as reference radiations To avoid potential confounding factors that would influence the outcome of the experiments only blood from one individual was used The neutron RBE culture conditions ensured that the chromosome analysis could be performed exclusively in metaphases of the first cell cycle in vitro For the reference radiation of 220 kV xrays the values of RBEM were found to increase from 166 En=36 keV to the maximum value of 234 En=385 keV For 60Co γrays utilized as the reference radiation the corresponding RBEM values were found to be higher by a factor of 4 These results agree well with the previously published large data sets of three laboratories on doseresponse relationships for dicentrics or dicentrics plus centric rings They show a similar dependence of RBE on neutron energy
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