Calculation of Canine Dose Rate Conversion Factors for Photons and Electrons

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Engineering
• Veterinary Medicine
• Canine Safety

Background:

• Urban search and rescue (USAR) dogs are vital for missions but lack personal protective equipment (PPE) in contaminated areas.
• Standard radiation dose calculations are not suitable for dogs due to their height and mobility needs.
• USAR dogs may sustain radiation exposure during missions, necessitating accurate dose estimation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop radiation dose conversion factors specifically for USAR dogs.
• To enable accurate estimation of radiation doses received by USAR dogs during missions.
• To support the safe deployment of USAR dogs in radiological environments.

Main Methods:

• Calculated dose conversion factors for photon and electron radiation sources.
• Utilized a height of 40 cm, suitable for FEMA-preferred USAR dog breeds.
• Assumed uniform distribution of surface radioactivity for calculations.

Main Results:

• Established novel dose conversion factors for USAR dogs at a 40 cm height.
• Covered a range of energies for both photon (15 keV to 15 MeV) and electron (10 keV to 10 MeV) sources.
• Provided a basis for estimating radiation doses for working canines.

Conclusions:

• The developed dose conversion factors will allow for better radiation dose management for USAR dogs.
• Enables USAR dogs to perform missions effectively while minimizing radiation exposure.
• Contributes to the safety and operational efficiency of specialized canine teams.