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Dachev TP, Litvak ML, Benton E, Ploc O, Tomov BT, Matviichuk YN, Dimitrov PG, Koleva RT, Jordanova MM, Bankov NG, Mitev MG, Mitrofanov IG, Golovin DV, Mokrousov MI, Sanin AB, Tretyakov VI, Shurshakov VA, Benghin VV. The neutron dose equivalent rate measurements by R3DR/R2 spectrometers on the international space station. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2023; 39:43-51. [PMID: 37945088 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The data from two Bulgarian-German instruments with the basic name "Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter" (R3D) are discussed. The R3DR instrument worked inside the ESA EXPOSE-R facility (2009-2010), while R3DR2 worked inside the ESA EXPOSE-R2 facility (2014-2016). Both were outside the Russian Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The data from both instruments were used for calculation of the neutron dose equivalent rate. Similar data, obtained by the Russian "BTNNEUTRON" instrument on the ISS are used to benchmark the R3DR/R2 neutron dose equivalent rate. The analisys reveals that the "BTNNEUTRON" and R3DR/R2 values are comparable both in the equatorial and in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) regions. The R3DR/R2 values are smaller than the "BTNNEUTRON" values in the high latitude regions. The comparison with the Monte Carlo simulations of the secondary galactic cosmic rays (GCR) neutron ambient dose equivalent rates (El-Jaby and Richardson, 2015, 2016) also shows a good coincidence with the R3DR/R2 spectrometer data obtained in the equatorial and high latitude regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsvetan P Dachev
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Maxim L Litvak
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Eric Benton
- Department of Physics, Oklahoma State University, USA
| | - Ondrej Ploc
- Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Borislav T Tomov
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Yuri N Matviichuk
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Plamen G Dimitrov
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Rositza T Koleva
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Malina M Jordanova
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Nikolay G Bankov
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mityo G Mitev
- Space Research and Technology Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 1, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Igor G Mitrofanov
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitri V Golovin
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim I Mokrousov
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton B Sanin
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Viacheslav A Shurshakov
- State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor V Benghin
- State Research Center Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
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Montgomery L, Lund CM, Landry A, Kildea J. Towards the characterization of neutron carcinogenesis through direct action simulations of clustered DNA damage. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66. [PMID: 34555818 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac2998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Neutron exposure poses a unique radiation protection concern because neutrons have a large, energy-dependent relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for stochastic effects. Recent computational studies on the microdosimetric properties of neutron dose deposition have implicated clustered DNA damage as a likely contributor to this marked energy dependence. So far, publications have focused solely on neutron RBE for inducing clusters of DNA damage containing two or more DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). In this study, we have conducted a novel assessment of neutron RBE for inducing all types of clustered DNA damage that contain two or more lesions, stratified by whether the clusters contain DSBs (complex DSB clusters) or not (non-DSB clusters). This assessment was conducted for eighteen initial neutron energies between 1 eV and 10 MeV as well as a reference radiation of 250 keV x-rays. We also examined the energy dependence of cluster length and cluster complexity because these factors are believed to impact the DNA repair process. To carry out our investigation, we developed a user-friendly TOPAS-nBio application that includes a custom nuclear DNA model and a novel algorithm for recording clustered DNA damage. We found that neutron RBE for inducing complex DSB clusters exhibited similar energy dependence to the canonical neutron RBE for stochastic radiobiological effects, at multiple depths in human tissue. Qualitatively similar results were obtained for non-DSB clusters, although the quantitative agreement was lower. Additionally we identified a significant neutron energy dependence in the average length and complexity of clustered lesions. These results support the idea that many types of clustered DNA damage contribute to the energy dependence of neutron RBE for stochastic radiobiological effects and imply that the size and constituent lesions of individual clusters should be taken into account when modeling DNA repair. Our results were qualitatively consistent for (i) multiple radiation doses (including a low-dose 0.1 Gy irradiation), (ii) variations in the maximal lesion separation distance used to define a cluster, and (iii) two distinct collections of physics models used to govern particle transport. Our complete TOPAS-nBio application has been released under an open-source license to enable others to independently validate our work and to expand upon it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Montgomery
- Medical Physics Unit, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A3J1, Canada
| | | | - Anthony Landry
- Prince Edward Island Cancer Treatment Centre, Charlottetown, PE, C1A8T5, Canada.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H4RZ, Canada
| | - John Kildea
- Medical Physics Unit, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A3J1, Canada
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Restier-Verlet J, El-Nachef L, Ferlazzo ML, Al-Choboq J, Granzotto A, Bouchet A, Foray N. Radiation on Earth or in Space: What Does It Change? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3739. [PMID: 33916740 PMCID: PMC8038356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
After having been an instrument of the Cold War, space exploration has become a major technological, scientific and societal challenge for a number of countries. With new projects to return to the Moon and go to Mars, radiobiologists have been called upon to better assess the risks linked to exposure to radiation emitted from space (IRS), one of the major hazards for astronauts. To this aim, a major task is to identify the specificities of the different sources of IRS that concern astronauts. By considering the probabilities of the impact of IRS against spacecraft shielding, three conclusions can be drawn: (1) The impacts of heavy ions are rare and their contribution to radiation dose may be low during low Earth orbit; (2) secondary particles, including neutrons emitted at low energy from the spacecraft shielding, may be common in deep space and may preferentially target surface tissues such as the eyes and skin; (3) a "bath of radiation" composed of residual rays and fast neutrons inside the spacecraft may present a concern for deep tissues such as bones and the cardiovascular system. Hence, skin melanoma, cataracts, loss of bone mass, and aging of the cardiovascular system are possible, dependent on the dose, dose-rate, and individual factors. This suggests that both radiosusceptibility and radiodegeneration may be concerns related to space exploration. In addition, in the particular case of extreme solar events, radiosensitivity reactions-such as those observed in acute radiation syndrome-may occur and affect blood composition, gastrointestinal and neurologic systems. This review summarizes the specificities of space radiobiology and opens the debate as regards refinements of current radiation protection concepts that will be useful for the better estimation of risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicolas Foray
- Inserm, U1296 Unit, «Radiation: Defense, Health and Environment», Centre Léon-Bérard, 28, Rue Laennec, 69008 Lyon, France; (J.R.-V.); (L.E.-N.); (M.L.F.); (J.A.-C.); (A.G.); (A.B.)
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Ambrožová I, Davídková M, Brabcová KP, Tolochek RV, Shurshakov VA. CONTRIBUTION OF DIFFERENT PARTICLES MEASURED WITH TRACK ETCHED DETECTORS ONBOARD ISS. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2018; 180:138-141. [PMID: 29036726 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncx189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Cosmic radiation consists of primary high-energy galactic and solar particles. When passing through spacecraft walls and astronauts' bodies, the spectrum becomes even more complex due to generating of secondary particles through fragmentation and nuclear interactions. Total radiation exposure is contributed by both these components. With an advantage, space research uses track etched detectors from the group of passive detectors visualizing the tracks of particles, in this case by etching. The detectors can discriminate between various components of cosmic radiation. A method is introduced for the separation of the different types of particles according to their range using track etched detectors. The method is demonstrated using detectors placed in Russian segment of the International Space Station in 2009. It is shown that the primary high-energy heavy ions with long range contribute up to 56% of the absorbed dose and up to 50% to the dose equivalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Ambrožová
- Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS, Na Truhlárce 39/64, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - M Davídková
- Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS, Na Truhlárce 39/64, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - K Pachnerová Brabcová
- Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS, Na Truhlárce 39/64, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - R V Tolochek
- Institute for Biomedical Problems RAS, Khoroshevskoe Shosse 76a, Moscow, Russia
| | - V A Shurshakov
- Institute for Biomedical Problems RAS, Khoroshevskoe Shosse 76a, Moscow, Russia
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Heilbronn L, Zeitlin CJ, Iwata Y, Murakami T, Iwase H, Nakamura T, Nunomiya T, Sato H, Yashima H, Ronningen RM, Ieki K. Secondary Neutron-Production Cross Sections from Heavy-Ion Interactions between 230 and 600 MeV/Nucleon. NUCL SCI ENG 2017. [DOI: 10.13182/nse07-a2719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Heilbronn
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, MS 74-197, Berkeley, California 94720
| | - C. J. Zeitlin
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, MS 74-197, Berkeley, California 94720
| | - Y. Iwata
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Department of Accelerator Physics and Engineering 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - T. Murakami
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Department of Accelerator Physics and Engineering 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - H. Iwase
- Tohoku University, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Aoba, Aramaki, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - T. Nakamura
- Tohoku University, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Aoba, Aramaki, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - T. Nunomiya
- Tohoku University, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Aoba, Aramaki, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - H. Sato
- Tohoku University, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Aoba, Aramaki, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - H. Yashima
- Tohoku University, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Aoba, Aramaki, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - R. M. Ronningen
- Michigan State University, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1321
| | - K. Ieki
- Rikkyo University, Department of Physics, 3-34-1 Nishi Ikebukuro Toshima, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan
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Pomp S, Bartlett DT, Mayer S, Reitz G, Röttger S, Silari M, Smit FD, Vincke H, Yasuda H. High-energy quasi-monoenergetic neutron fields: existing facilities and future needs. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2014; 161:62-66. [PMID: 24153422 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nct259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The argument that well-characterised quasi-monoenergetic neutron (QMN) sources reaching into the energy domain >20 MeV are needed is presented. A brief overview of the existing facilities is given, and a list of key factors that an ideal QMN source for dosimetry and spectrometry should offer is presented. The authors conclude that all of the six QMN facilities currently in existence worldwide operate in sub-optimal conditions for dosimetry. The only currently available QMN facility in Europe capable of operating at energies >40 MeV, TSL in Uppsala, Sweden, is threatened with shutdown in the immediate future. One facility, NFS at GANIL, France, is currently under construction. NFS could deliver QMN beams up to about 30 MeV. It is, however, so far not clear if and when NFS will be able to offer QMN beams or operate with only so-called white neutron beams. It is likely that by 2016, QMN beams with energies >40 MeV will be available only in South Africa and Japan, with none in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pomp
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - S Mayer
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Radiation Metrology Section, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - G Reitz
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - S Röttger
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - F D Smit
- iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
| | | | - H Yasuda
- UNSCEAR Secretariat, Vienna, Austria
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Guo SL, Doke T, Zhang DH, Li L, Chen BL, Kikuchi J, Hasebe N, Terasawa K, Hara K, Fuse T, Yasuda N, Murakami T. Experimental investigation of bubble occurrence and locality distribution of bubble detectors bombarded with high-energy helium ions. RADIAT MEAS 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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8
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Guo SL, Doke T, Zhang DH, Li L, Chen BL, Kikuchi J, Terasawa K, Komiyama M, Hara K, Fuse T, Yasuda N, Murakami T. Study of bubble distributions by high-energy protons in bubble detectors and its hints in neutron detection at higher altitude and in space. RADIAT MEAS 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2009.10.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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9
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Koshiishi H, Matsumoto H, Chishiki A, Goka T, Omodaka T. Evaluation of the neutron radiation environment inside the International Space Station based on the Bonner Ball Neutron Detector experiment. RADIAT MEAS 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2007.02.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Spurny F, Dudkin VE. Dosimetry and microdosimetry characteristics measured on board the MIR station during the 28th basic expedition. RADIAT MEAS 2002; 35:539-43. [PMID: 12442757 DOI: 10.1016/s1350-4487(02)00087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Three types of detectors were used onboard the MIR station during the 28th base expeditions to characterise the radiation field: a linear energy transfer (LET) spectrometer was used to establish the LET spectrum between 7 and 700 keV/micrometers corresponding mostly to secondary charged particles; a set of thermoluminescent detectors was used to characterise the low LET component of the onboard radiation field; and Si-diodes were installed to determine the contribution to the exposure due to fast neutrons. It was found out that the LET spectrum from secondary particles between 7 and 700 KeV/micrometers does not depend on the external radiator; the average quality factors for the region mentioned are about 6.0 with ICRP 26 quality factors and about 6.8 with ICRP 60 quality factors. Both differential and integral LET spectra are presented for some typical cases, not only for particle number but also for the dose characteristics like dose and dose equivalent. The spectra obtained also permitted us to calculate the total doses and dose equivalents due to secondary particles with the LET values between 7 and 700 keV/micrometers. It was found out that these quantities are higher for the case of detectors placed in the less shielded area, both for the LET spectrometer (high LET part) as well as for TLDs measuring the low LET component. Total dosimetric characteristics obtained as a sum of both components mentioned are a little lower than previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frantisek Spurny
- Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Benton ER, Benton EV. Space radiation dosimetry in low-Earth orbit and beyond. NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH. SECTION B, BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS 2001; 184:255-294. [PMID: 11863032 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-583x(01)00748-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Space radiation dosimetry presents one of the greatest challenges in the discipline of radiation protection. This is a result of both the highly complex nature of the radiation fields encountered in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and interplanetary space and of the constraints imposed by spaceflight on instrument design. This paper reviews the sources and composition of the space radiation environment in LEO as well as beyond the Earth's magnetosphere. A review of much of the dosimetric data that have been gathered over the last four decades of human space flight is presented. The different factors affecting the radiation exposures of astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are emphasized. Measurements made aboard the Mir Orbital Station have highlighted the importance of both secondary particle production within the structure of spacecraft and the effect of shielding on both crew dose and dose equivalent. Roughly half the dose on ISS is expected to come from trapped protons and half from galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). The dearth of neutron measurements aboard LEO spacecraft and the difficulty inherent in making such measurements have led to large uncertainties in estimates of the neutron contribution to total dose equivalent. Except for a limited number of measurements made aboard the Apollo lunar missions, no crew dosimetry has been conducted beyond the Earth's magnetosphere. At the present time we are forced to rely on model-based estimates of crew dose and dose equivalent when planning for interplanetary missions, such as a mission to Mars. While space crews in LEO are unlikely to exceed the exposure limits recommended by such groups as the NCRP, dose equivalents of the same order as the recommended limits are likely over the course of a human mission to Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Benton
- Eril Research, Inc., San Rafael, CA 94915-0788, USA.
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