Mapping the distribution of (90)Sr in teeth with a photostimulable phosphor imaging detector

The present communication describes the technical aspects of the first application of an imaging plate for visualization of (90)Sr deposited in human teeth. The teeth were obtained from Techa River area residents who were exposed as a result of releases of radioactivity into the Techa River by the first Soviet nuclear plant Mayak in the early 1950s. The investigations form the basis for an experimental procedure for accurate mapping of the distribution of (90)Sr in teeth with an imaging plate. This new method can be used as an individual indicator of radionuclide intake. Its advantages are its high sensitivity (0.02 Bq/g mm(-2) of (90)Sr), it ability to examine small detectable cross-sectional areas of dental tissue (dentin) contaminated with (90)Sr (from 0.01 mm(2)), the nondestructive method of analysis, and the simplicity of use. The combined application of this method with EPR tooth biodosimetry can provide more accurate dose reconstruction and may lead to more effective radiation risk assessment.