A Monte Carlo code for a direct estimation of radiation risk

Area of Science:

• Radiation Biology
• High-Energy Physics
• Computational Physics

Background:

• Predicting mixed radiation field effects is crucial for assessing health risks.
• Cancer risk is often correlated with chromosome aberration induction.
• Radiation-induced chromosome-exchange yield follows a linear-quadratic model based on particle fluences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a pragmatic approach for predicting mixed radiation field effects.
• To estimate radiation risk in manned space missions.
• To integrate radiobiological effects into a Monte Carlo transport code.

Main Methods:

• Assumptions: cancer risk correlates with chromosome aberration induction; yield follows linear-quadratic dependence on particle fluences.
• Integrated monochromatic field radiobiological effects into the FLUKA condensed-history Monte Carlo transport code.
• Tested the method for neutron irradiation of a water phantom and coupled with a geometrical human phantom with shielding.

Main Results:

• The integrated FLUKA code estimates chromosome aberration yield in each voxel of an irradiated volume for mixed-field irradiation.
• The method was successfully tested for neutron irradiation of a water phantom.
• The approach is applicable for estimating radiation risk in manned space missions with varying shielding.

Conclusions:

• A pragmatic method for predicting mixed radiation field effects and estimating radiation risk has been developed.
• The integration of radiobiological data into Monte Carlo simulations provides a valuable tool for radiation protection.
• This approach can enhance safety assessments for astronauts during space missions.