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1967•British Journal of RadiologyRequires access

The Relative Biological Effectiveness of Tritium Beta Particles Compared to Gamma Radiation—its dependence on dose-rate

Eric J. Hall, R. Oliver, Joel S. Bedford

Open publisher page 16 citations

Abstract

Abstract The RBE of the β particles from 3H in water relative to radium or 60Co γ radiation was determined for HeLa cells cultured in vitro. For cell population growth rate under continuous irradiation at 0·5–3 rads/hour the RBE was about 2·0. For cell survival following exposures at 32 rads/hour the RBE was about 1·0. Using inhibition of root growth of Vicia seedlings as a test system RBE values of 1·6 and 1·0 were measured at dose rates of 1·52 and 46·3 rads/hour respectively. Such a dose-rate dependence of RBE is consistent with previously published results and the value of 1·7 used in the I.C.R.P. recommendations appears to be relevant to exposure at very low dose-rates.

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Abstract The RBE of the β particles from 3H in water relative to radium or 60Co γ radiation was determined for HeLa cells cultured in vitro. For cell population growth rate under continuous irradiation at 0·5–3 rads/hour the RBE was about 2·0. For cell survival following exposures at 32 rads/hour the RBE was about 1·0. Using inhibition of root growth of Vicia seedlings as a test system RBE values of 1·6 and 1·0 were measured at dose rates of 1·52 and 46·3 rads/hour respectively. Such a dose-rate dependence of RBE is consistent with previously published results and the value of 1·7 used in the I.C.R.P. recommendations appears to be relevant to exposure at very low dose-rates.

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Available abstract

Abstract The RBE of the β particles from 3H in water relative to radium or 60Co γ radiation was determined for HeLa cells cultured in vitro. For cell population growth rate under continuous irradiation at 0·5–3 rads/hour the RBE was about 2·0. For cell survival following exposures at 32 rads/hour the RBE was about 1·0. Using inhibition of root growth of Vicia seedlings as a test system RBE values of 1·6 and 1·0 were measured at dose rates of 1·52 and 46·3 rads/hour respectively. Such a dose-rate dependence of RBE is consistent with previously published results and the value of 1·7 used in the I.C.R.P. recommendations appears to be relevant to exposure at very low dose-rates.

Key concepts: Relative biological effectiveness, Nuclear medicine, Irradiation, Radiochemistry, Dose rate, Tritium, Radiation dose, Radium

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