Emergency EPR and OSL dosimetry with table vitamins and minerals

Area of Science:

• Radiation dosimetry
• Biophysics
• Materials science

Background:

• Developing emergency dosemeters is crucial for radiation accident management.
• Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) are sensitive techniques for detecting radiation effects.
• Certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids possess properties suitable for dosimetric applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate table vitamins, minerals, and L-lysine as potential emergency radiation dosemeters.
• To investigate the feasibility of using EPR and OSL techniques for quantifying radiation exposure in these substances.
• To characterize the dosimetric properties, including dose response, signal fading, and minimum measurable doses (MMDs).

Main Methods:

• Samples of vitamin B2, L-lysine, multivitamins, and magnesium (Mg) were exposed to ionizing radiation.
• Radiation-induced signals were measured using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL).
• Dosimetric properties such as dose response, signal fading, and MMDs were analyzed using specific protocols for EPR and OSL.

Main Results:

• Radiation-induced EPR signals were detected in vitamin B2 and L-lysine samples.
• Multivitamin and Mg samples exhibited prominent OSL signals after irradiation.
• EPR-sensitive samples had MMDs below 2 Gy, and OSL-sensitive materials had MMDs below 500 mGy when analyzed within one week post-exposure.

Conclusions:

• Table vitamins, minerals, and L-lysine are viable candidates for emergency radiation dosimetry.
• EPR and OSL techniques effectively detect and quantify radiation doses in these biological materials.
• The characterized dosimetric properties support their use in rapid, post-exposure assessment, provided timely analysis.