Research and analysis

Radiation doses investigated by chromosomal aberration analysis 2006 to 2015

This report (PHE-CRCE-025) is a review of suspected overexposures investigated by chromosomal aberration analysis.

• From: Public Health England
• Published: 11 April 2016

Documents

PHE-CRCE-025: doses in radiation accidents investigated by chromosomal aberration analysis XXV: review of cases investigated, 2006–2015

Ref: ISBN 978-0-85951-780-5, PHE publications gateway number: 2015730

PDF, 568 KB, 32 pages

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Details

During the period 73 people suspected of being overexposed to ionising radiation were referred to Public Health England (and its predecessor the Health Protection Agency) for biological dosimetry.

Although the vast majority of cases were suspected occupational overexposures, the most serious case concerned a 2-year-old boy who sustained radiation burns during CT scans performed outside the European Union, which were incorrectly repeated numerous times. The cases included in this summary bring the total number of individuals examined since the laboratory was established in 1968 to 1092.

A number of new biological dosimetry techniques have been developed within the last 10 years. These are briefly summarised in this report and represent a large improvement in the laboratory’s ability both to perform accurate routine biological dose estimations and to provide rapid response triage dose estimates following a mass casualty event.

Published 11 April 2016