Bioterrorism Studies

在REB开展的大多数剂量测定工作都直接或间接地应用于评估涉及环境辐射的生物恐怖主义事件的辐射剂量。对剂量的准确评估可以对长期癌症风险做出准确的预测。自2005年以来，REB的所有与生物恐怖主义有关的研究都是根据NIAID和NCI之间的机构间协议提供资金的。与生物恐怖主义有关的已完成和正在进行的REB活动的例子如下。<ul><li><b>核武器试验产生的放射性尘埃：</b>关于核武器试验放射性尘埃的研究，已完成的研究包括：(1)编制了一个基于网络的计算器，用于估计来自内华达州试验场地尘埃的I-131的个人甲状腺辐射剂量和相关的甲状腺癌风险，以及(2)编写了一份国会授权的关于美国人民从世界各地所有核武器试验的尘埃中获得的辐射剂量的可行性研究报告。继续进行的研究是：(1)制定美国/俄罗斯评估放射性尘埃辐射剂量的联合方法；(2)对暴露在塞米巴拉金斯克(哈萨克斯坦)核试验场的环境辐射活动尘埃后的甲状腺癌和甲状腺疾病风险进行流行病学研究；(3)获取将用于联合方法和哈萨克斯坦流行病学研究的住宅史、食品消耗率和农业做法的数据；(4)按照国会的要求，评估在马绍尔群岛进行的核试验的剂量和风险，以及(5)将有关放射性粉尘的历史数据和国内和国际报告存档，并开发一个关于全世界放射性粉尘测量的电子数据库。</li><br><li><b>辐射事故后果评估：</b>关于对实际或假想的辐射事故后果的评估，完成了一项研究，其中建立了所有年龄段未受辐射暴露的人的稳定染色体畸变率数据库。这些数据可以在核恐怖事件或事故暴露后使用，以区分未接触者和中度接触者。正在进行的或新的研究包括：(1)切尔诺贝利事故排放物暴露者的辐射剂量估计，(2)核事件后外部照射个人剂量的快速评估；和(3)切尔诺贝利事故后所用对策的组织、实施和效果的评估。</li><br><li><b>新方法的发展：</b>关于新方法的发展，几项创新研究正在进行并继续进行，包括(1)利用人牙釉质和光刺激发光(OSL)和电子顺磁共振(EPR)开发改进的生物剂量测量技术，(2)通过生物剂量测量证实分析剂量估计，(3)对健康人和甲状腺疾病患者的I-131单位摄入量剂量的评估，以及(4)定量估计某些放射性核素(那些被认为可能用于脏弹的放射性核素)转移到动物奶和奶制品的实验的文献回顾和考虑。</li><br><br><li><b>培训和沟通：</b>许多研究或活动也致力于培训和沟通。已完成的活动包括：(1)在2004年健康物理学会年会和2006年7月的BioDosEPR研讨会上组织了关于辐射剂量学的特别会议，以及(2)编写了一期《辐射研究》特刊，介绍了如何将剂量学方法应用于医疗、职业和环境辐射剂量的评估。持续的活动包括参加国家和国际组织的方案和专家委员会，如国家辐射防护和测量委员会(NCRP)、国际放射防护委员会(ICRP)、国际原子能机构(IAEA)和联合国原子辐射影响科学委员会(UNSCEAR)。此外，还为可能参与缓解核事件的人员提供辐射科学方面的培训，包括为期一周的辐射流行病学课程。</li><li>支持并作为高级编辑参加将于2009年发表在《健康物理学》上的《BIODOS-2008会议论文集》。</li></ul>

Most of the dosimetry work that is carried out at REB has direct or indirect applications to the assessment of radiation doses from bioterrorism events involving environmental radiation. Accurate assessment of doses permits accurate projections of long-term cancer risks to be made. Since 2005, all of the bioterrorism-related studies at REB are funded under an Inter-Agency Agreement between NIAID and NCI. Examples of completed and continuing REB activities relevant of bioterrorism follow. <ul style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana"> <li><b>Radioactive Fallout from Nuclear Weapons Tests:</b> With regard to the studies of radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons test, the completed studies include: (1) The preparation of a web-based calculator for estimating individual thyroid radiation dose from I-131 originating from Nevada Test Site fallout and the related thyroid cancer risk, and (2) The preparation of a report of a Congressionally-mandated feasibility study on radiation doses received by the American people from fallout from all nuclear weapons tests worldwide. The continuing studies are: (1) The development of a joint U.S./Russian methodology for assessment of radiation doses from radioactive fallout (2) Conduct of an epidemiologic study on thyroid cancer and thyroid disease risks following exposure to environmental radiation active fallout from the Semipalatinsk (Kazakhstan) nuclear test site, (3) The acquisition of data on residential history, foodstuff consumption rates, and agricultural practices to be used in the joint methodology and in the Kazakhstan epidemiologic study, (4) As mandated by Congress, the assessment of doses and risks from nuclear tests conducted in the Marshall Islands, and (5) Archiving historical fallout data and national and international reports on fallout and developing an electronic database on fallout measurements worldwide.</li><br><br> <li><b>Evaluation of Consequences of Radiation Accidents:</b> With respect to the evaluation of the consequences of actual or hypothetical radiation accidents, a study was completed in which a database was developed of stable chromosome aberration rates for unexposed people of all ages. The data could be used following exposures from a nuclear terrorist event or accident to distinguish between unexposed persons from those with moderate exposure. Continuing or new studies include: (1) The estimation of radiation doses by people exposed to emissions from the Chernobyl accident, (2) The rapid assessment of individual doses from external irradiation following a nuclear event; and (3) The evaluation of the organization, implementation, and efficacy of the countermeasures used after the Chernobyl accident.</li><br><br> <li><b>Development of New Methods:</b> Regarding the development of new methods, several innovative studies are underway and continuing, including (1) The development of improved biodosimetry techniques using human tooth enamel and optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), (2) Corroboration of analytical dosimetry estimates via biodosimetry measurements, (3) The assessment of doses per unit intake of I-131 for healthy people and for people suffering from thyroid diseases, and (4) A literature review and consideration of experiments to quantitatively estimate the transfer of certain radionuclides (those considered as likely to be used in dirty bombs) to animal milk and dairy products.</li><br><br> <li><b>Training and Communication:</b> A number of studies or activities are also devoted to training and communication. Completed activities include: (1) The organization of special sessions on radiation dosimetry at the 2004 annual meeting of the Health Physics Society and at the BioDosEPR Symposium in July 2006, and (2) The preparation of a special issue of Radiation Research describing how dosimetry methods are applied in the assessment of medical, occupational, and environmental radiation doses. Continuing activities include participation in programs and expert committees of national and international organizations, e.g., National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). In addition, training in radiation sciences for personnel who could be involved in the mitigation of nuclear events is provided including a one-week course on Radiation Epidemiology.</li> <li>Supporting and participating as the Senior Editor of the Proceedings from the Biodos-2008 Conference, to be published in Health Physics in 2009.</li> </ul>