The future of biological dosimetry in mass casualty radiation emergency response, personalized radiation risk estimation and space radiation protection

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this brief personal, high level review is to consider the state of the art for biological dosimetry for radiation routine and emergency response, and the potential future progress in this fascinating and active field. Four areas in which biomarkers may contribute to scientific advancement through improved dose and exposure characterization, as well as potential contributions to personalized risk estimation, are considered: emergency dosimetry, molecular epidemiology, personalized medical dosimetry, and space travel.

Conclusion

Ionizing radiation biodosimetry is an exciting field which will continue to benefit from active networking and collaboration with the wider fields of radiation research and radiation emergency response to ensure effective, joined up approaches to triage; radiation epidemiology to assess long term, low dose, radiation risk; radiation protection of workers, optimization and justification of radiation for diagnosis or treatment of patients in clinical uses, and protection of individuals traveling to space.

Graphical Abstract

Well established and newer biodosimetric techniques show promise for a number of future dosimetry or wider research application. PCC: Premature chromosome condensation.

Keywords:

• Radiation
• biological dosimetry
• biomarkers of dose and risk
• space flight radiation

Acknowledgements

The authors of this work have been partly supported by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Chemical & Radiation Threats & Hazards, a partnership between PHE and Imperial College London. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, PHE or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Chemical & Radiation Threats & Hazards (NIHR reference: NIHR200922).

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth A. Ainsbury

Elizabeth A. Ainsbury, PhD, MP is Senior Scientific Group Leader of the Cytogenetics and Pathology Group within the Radiation Effects Department of Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, UK, which houses the UK’s Cytogenetic Dosimetry Service, and a Visiting Researcher at the Environmental Research Group within the School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.

Jayne Moquet

Jayne Moquet is a Principal Radiation Protection Scientist of the Cytogenetics and Pathology Group within the Radiation Effects Department of Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, UK.

Mingzhu Sun

Mingzhu Sun is a Higher Radiation Protection Scientist of the Cytogenetics and Pathology Group within the Radiation Effects Department of Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, UK.

Stephen Barnard

Stephen Barnard a Senior Radiation Protection Scientist of the Cytogenetics and Pathology Group within the Radiation Effects Department of Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, UK.

Michele Ellender

Michele Ellender is a Principal Radiation Protection Scientist of the Cytogenetics and Pathology Group within the Radiation Effects Department of Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, UK.

David Lloyd

David Lloyd is a Visiting Worker of the Cytogenetics and Pathology Group within the Radiation Effects Department of Public Health England’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire, UK.