| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R00791/01 |
| Title: |
Low Let (Sparsely Ionising) Radiations: Biological Effectiveness/Cancer Risks In Medicine and the Workplace |
| Principal Investigator: |
Beddoe, Professor AH |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of Birmingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 January 2001 |
Ends: |
30 September 2004 |
Value (£): |
290,664
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Biomaterials |
Population Ecology |
| Scattering & Spectroscopy |
Tissue Engineering |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Cancer mortality risk estimates for low-LET (linear energy transfer) radiations (eg gamma, X and beta) are based mainly on the epidemiological analyses of the Japanese A-bomb survivors. These were exposed to gamma-rays with energies ranging up to 14 MeV, whereas most occupational and environmental exposures to low-LET radiations are at energies <<1 MeV. The international basis for deriving radiation dose limits assumes that A-bomb gamma-rays are of equal biological effectiveness to other low-LET radiations. However, preliminary measurements of radiation induced damage in cells indicates that A-bomb gamma-rays may be several times less effective than 250 kVp x-rays (radiation workers) and these in turn could be several times less effective than 29 kVp x-rays (diagnostic mammography for early indicator of breast cancer). This study will evaluate the relative biological effectiveness of various low-LET radiations, at low doses, using biological endpoints (eg neoplastic transformations in vitro) which are strongly correlated with carcinogenesis in humans. A clinical electron linear accelerator will be used to simulate the spectra from the weapons detonated in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The biological effects will be interpreted using calculated and measured microdosimetric spectra to elucidate the damage mechanisms and to enable the extrapolation to other radiation qualities.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bham.ac.uk |