Bioterrorism Studies

在环境研究中心进行的大多数剂量学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作出准确的预测。自2005年以来，REB所有与生物恐怖主义有关的研究都是根据NIAID和NCI之间的机构间协议资助的。以下是已完成的和正在进行的与生物恐怖主义有关的REB活动的例子。< span style="font- family：宋体；[font-family: Verdana"> <li><b>核武器试验产生的放射性沉降物：</b>关于核武器试验产生的放射性沉降物的研究，已完成的研究包括：(1)编制基于网络的计算器，用于估计来自内华达试验场放射性尘降物的I-131的个人甲状腺辐射剂量和相关的甲状腺癌风险；(2)编写一份国会授权的关于美国人民从全世界所有核武器试验的放射性尘降物中接受的辐射剂量的可行性研究报告。正在进行的研究是：(1)制定联合方法，评估在塞米巴拉金斯克进行的核试验产生的辐射剂量；(2)对接触塞米巴拉金斯克（哈萨克斯坦）核试验场环境辐射活性沉降物后的甲状腺癌和甲状腺疾病风险进行流行病学研究；(3)获取有关居住史、食品消耗率、在联合方法和哈萨克斯坦流行病学研究中使用的农业做法；(4)根据国会的规定，评估在马绍尔群岛进行的核试验的剂量和风险；(5)存档历史沉降物数据以及关于沉降物的国家和国际报告，并建立世界范围内沉降物测量的电子数据库。</li><br><br><li><b>辐射事故后果评价</b>关于评估实际或假设的辐射事故的后果，完成了一项研究，其中建立了所有年龄段未受辐射人群的稳定染色体畸变率数据库。这些数据可用于核恐怖事件或事故暴露后区分未暴露者和中度暴露者。继续进行的或新的研究包括：(1)接触切尔诺贝利事故排放物的人的辐射剂量估计；(2)核事件后外部照射的个人剂量的快速评估；(3)评价切尔诺贝利事故后采取的对策的组织、实施和效果。新方法的发展关于新方法的发展，一些创新的研究正在进行和继续进行，包括：(1)利用人类牙釉质、光刺激发光（OSL）和电子顺磁共振（EPR）开发改进的生物剂量测定技术；(2)通过生物剂量测定来证实分析剂量测定的结果；(3)评估健康人群和甲状腺疾病患者每单位摄入I-131的剂量；(4)文献综述和一些计划中的实验，以定量估计某些放射性核素（被认为可能用于脏弹的放射性核素）向动物奶和乳制品的转移。</li><br><br><li><b>培训与交流：</b>许多研究或活动也致力于培训与交流。已完成的活动包括：(1)在卫生物理学会2004年年会上和2006年7月的BioDosEPR研讨会上组织关于辐射剂量学的特别会议，以及(2)编写《辐射研究》特刊，描述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项目和专家委员会，例如国家辐射防护和测量委员会（NCRP）、国际辐射防护委员会（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，还为可能参与减轻核事件的人员提供辐射科学培训，包括为期一周的辐射流行病学课程

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 methodology for assessment of radiation doses from nuclear tests conducted at Semipalatinsk, (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 some planned 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></ul