Metaphase chromosome aberrations as markers of radiation exposure and dose

Chromosome aberration frequency provides the most reliable biological marker of dose to detect acute accidental radiation exposure. Significant radiation-induced changes in the frequency of chromosome aberrations can be detected at very low doses (Lloyd et al., 1992). In animal studies chromosome aberrations provide a method to relate exposure to cellular dose. Using an in vivo/in vitro approach, aberrations provided a biological marker of dose from radon progeny exposure, which was used to convert exposure, work level months (WLM) to dose in grays (Gy) delivered to rat tracheal epithelial cells. Injection of Chinese hamsters with 144Ce, which produced a low-dose rate exposure of bone marrow to low-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, increased the cell sensitivity for the induction of chromatid exchanges by subsequent external 60Co exposure. Our paper provides information on using molecular chromosome probes to "paint" chromosomes and score chromosome damage. This approach illustrates how technical advances make it possible to understand the mechanisms involved in the formation of chromosome aberrations. These studies demonstrate the usefulness of chromosome damage as a biological marker of dose and cellular responsiveness.