Developing practical techniques of retrospective dosimetry for affected individuals in radiological emergencies

Professor Hiroshi Yasuda, based at Hiroshima University in Japan, is seeking to advance techniques for radiation dosimetry and radiological risk assessment. Radiation dosimetry includes measurement, calculation and prediction of ionising radiation doses absorbed by the organs and tissues of a human body. The techniques will be useful after a range of incidents including: nuclear/radiological accidents; failures in medical treatment using radiation; increase of solar flare particles in aviation; and terrorist attacks using radionuclides. It can save lives by determining someone's exposure to radiation following such an incident, enabling appropriate and timely medical intervention to be administered. Yasuda heads up a team in the University's Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine (RIRBM), where the researchers are actively focusing on four research topics: Biosample-ESR dosimetry; 3D gel dosimetry; novel luminescence dosimetry for accidental exposure; and individual aviation dosimetry for flyers.