A comparative analysis of two groups of highly irradiated victims was carried out in order to evaluate the suitability of two assays for retrospective dose assessment: late translocations and electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry. The first group comprised 24 subjects who exhibited acute radiation syndrome (ARS) due to overexposure as a result of nuclear submarine accidents during the period 1961-1985. Their grades of ARS and individual doses were ascertained by Navy physicians who carried out primary examinations and treatment of the exposed seamen. Cytogenetic analyses were made 16-40 y after their accidents. During medical treatment seven tooth samples were collected for ESR analysis from this group. The second group consisted of ten highly irradiated men from the Chernobyl accident. Comparison was made between estimates of their average whole-body penetrating radiation doses derived from several biological parameters. In three cases ESR measurements on tooth enamel from this group were also made. Retrospective dosimetry using FISH translocations was attempted 10-13 y later. Yields of late translocations were in good agreement with initially estimated doses and with doses obtained by ESR spectroscopy analysis of tooth enamel long after exposure. It was concluded that both persisting stable translocations and ESR spectroscopy signals are suitable with similar efficiencies for retrospective biodosimetry after acute whole-body exposure.

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