A new device to expose cells to changing dose rates of ionising radiation

In many exposure scenarios to ionising radiation, the dose rate is not constant. Despite this, most in vitro studies aimed at investigating the effects of ionising radiation are carried out exposing samples at constant dose rates. Consequently, very little data exist on the biological effects of exposures to changing dose rates. This may be due to technical limitations of standard irradiation facilities, but also to the fact that the importance of research in this area has not been appreciated. We have recently shown that cells exposed to a decreasing dose rate suffer higher levels of cytogenetic damage than do cells exposed to an increasing or a constant dose rate. To further study the effects of changing dose rates, a new device was constructed that permits the exposure of cell samples in tubes, flasks or Petri dishes to changing dose rates of X-rays. This report presents the technical data, performance and dosimetry of this novel device.