Radiation And Environmental Biophysics[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
A Monte Carlo study on the impact of a transverse magnetic field on microscopic dose enhancement of nanoparticles in therapeutic proton beams.
Alamgir J, Hosseini SA, Salimi E
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 41042309 · Publisher ↗
The rapid evolution of cancer treatment modalities has positioned proton therapy as a highly effective approach for targeting specific tumours. Proton therapy takes advantage of the Bragg peak phenomenon to deliver a con...
The rapid evolution of cancer treatment modalities has positioned proton therapy as a highly effective approach for targeting specific tumours. Proton therapy takes advantage of the Bragg peak phenomenon to deliver a concentrated dose to the tumour while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. This feature has spurred interest in further enhancing proton therapy through the integration of advanced technologies, such as image-guided proton therapy and nanoparticle (NP) application. The incorporation of NPs into tumour tissues has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the delivered dose in radiation therapy. This study investigates the dose enhancement factor (DEF) resulting from the presence of various NPs, when irradiated by a spread-out Bragg peak of a 120 MeV proton beam. Additionally, the magnetic dose enhancement factor (MDEF) under transverse magnetic fields of 3 T and 7 T is examined using the Geant4 simulation toolkit. The findings clarify the NP-mediated dose enhancement in proton therapy, particularly in the context of MRI-guided treatments. The highest DEF occurs within NPs (e.g., 1,341% for Ir), while the surrounding tissue exhibits negligible enhancement (< 10% up to a radial distance of 500 nm). The results indicate that magnetic fields up to 7 T do not significantly alter dose distributions around NPs. While validating the compatibility of NP-enhanced proton therapy with MRI guidance, this work provides a comparison of metallic (Au, Ir, Gd, and SPION) and non-metallic (B, C) NPs, establishing a foundation for clinical NP selection and future radiobiology studies.
A multi-scale Monte Carlo simulation on nanoparticle dose enhancement for a lung tumour treated with low-energy brachytherapy.
Movahedizade E, Sajjadi Z
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 41014327 · Publisher ↗
Low-energy brachytherapy using I and Pd seeds offers an effective treatment strategy for lung tumours by maximizing tumour dose delivery while sparing adjacent healthy tissues. It has been shown that the addition of meta...
Low-energy brachytherapy using I and Pd seeds offers an effective treatment strategy for lung tumours by maximizing tumour dose delivery while sparing adjacent healthy tissues. It has been shown that the addition of metal nanoparticles (NPs) in the tumour can improve the treatment outcomes in radiotherapy. This study investigates the dose enhancement potential of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and bismuth (Bi) NPs at concentrations of 3 and 7 mg/g through multi-scale Monte Carlo simulations using Geant4 (macroscopic) and Geant4-DNA (microscopic) toolkits. Results demonstrate consistent dose enhancement ratios (DERs) of up to 2.6 across both scales, with Bi NPs showing superior performance than Au and Pt NPs, due to their higher atomic number. DNA damage increased proportionally with NP concentration, confirming their radio-sensitizing potential. Furthermore, indirect free radical-mediated DNA damage accounted for ~ 90% of total damage, demonstrating the critical role of chemical-stage effects in NP radio-sensitization. The strong correlation between macroscopic and microscopic findings validates Bi NPs as optimal enhancers for low-energy lung brachytherapy, particularly when combined with I seeds. These results provide a robust foundation for clinical translation of NP-augmented brachytherapy protocols.
Understanding stakeholder uncertainties in environmental remediation: lessons from Belgium's industrial legacy of mixed radioactive-chemical contamination.
Perko T, Abelshausen B, Turcanu C
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40981986 · Publisher ↗
Environmental remediation projects imply a process fraught with uncertainties. While this is a truism, uncertainties faced by different stakeholders before, during, and after a remediation process have not been systemati...
Environmental remediation projects imply a process fraught with uncertainties. While this is a truism, uncertainties faced by different stakeholders before, during, and after a remediation process have not been systematically and empirically investigated. Hence, the goal of this study is to identify how stakeholders, including affected populations (residents), remediation experts, authorities, industry, and the mass media, perceive and experience uncertainties encountered during long-term environmental remediation processes at mixed chemical-radiological contaminated sites caused by industrial practices. For this purpose, the study employs a mixed methods approach at two sites in Flanders, Belgium contaminated by radioactive materials from radium production and the phosphate industry: this includes media content analysis (N = 164 articles published over three decades), semi-structured interviews with residents from affected areas (N = 24), and exploratory questionnaire followed by a panel discussion with experts, industry representatives, remediation experts, and authorities (N = 10). The study reveals that uncertainties vary widely among stakeholder groups and over time. Stakeholders emphasize different aspects of uncertainty, from management and legal issues to public health concerns. Residents show higher trust in authorities and operators to solve the uncertainties, contrasting with experts' focus uncertainties related to remediation techniques, societal challenges like conflicting needs and expectations and future land use. Each contaminated site's uncertainties are shaped by historical, socio-political, and economic contexts. This study is valuable for those interested in stakeholder involvement in decision-making on environmental issues, as well as for those examining the societal aspects of decision-making in radiation protection.
A response to the Vancouver call for action: addressing the needs of early career scientists in radiation protection.
Degenhardt ÄL, Kunert P, Herzner V … +7 more , Gill S, Love N, Abuhamed J, Stendardo G, Sennhenn KL, John WA, Subedi P
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40960552 · Full text
Early career researchers, professionals, and scientists (ECRs) are essential to the future of radiation protection, a field that increasingly relies on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. In line with the pri...
Early career researchers, professionals, and scientists (ECRs) are essential to the future of radiation protection, a field that increasingly relies on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. In line with the principles outlined in the Vancouver Call for Action for Radiation Protection Researchers, an ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) initiative, this article explores the current landscape for ECRs through the lens of survey data, initiative outcomes, and the establishment of the Early Career in Radiation Protection Network (ECRad). Drawing on a Europe-wide survey of 47 ECRs, the study identifies key areas of concern: while there is strong intrinsic motivation to remain in the field, perceived feasibility is often hampered by job insecurity, fragmented institutional support, and lack of structured mentorship. Although most respondents participate in existing networks such as ICRP, EURADOS, and IRPA, many reported unmet expectations, particularly in mentorship, sustained peer interaction, and accessible professional development. The formation of the RadoNorm Early Career Researcher Council (ECRC) responded directly to these gaps, demonstrating that self-organized, ECR-led initiatives can significantly enhance a sense of belonging and interdisciplinary engagement. However, structural barriers - such as time, funding, and short-term project support - persist, echoing the Vancouver Call for Action's call for improved education, training, and retention. In conclusion, while considerable progress has been made in addressing the needs of ECRs in radiation protection, gaps that threaten the long-term vitality of the field remain. The findings affirm the urgency of coordinated action among institutions, networks, and funding bodies to invest in and empower the next generation of radiation protection professionals.
Overview of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in mineral processing industries and consideration of ionising radiation in life cycle assessment - Part I. NORM inventory.
Dvorzhak A, Ugolini R, Venoso G … +12 more , Leonardi F, Michalik B, Real A, Escribano A, Pérez-Sánchez D, Vanhoudt N, Kallio A, Nuccetteli C, Trotti F, Trevisi R, Fevrier L, Popic JM
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40960551 · Full text
A systematic overview of NORM related issues in mineral processing industries as production of phosphoric acid, titanium dioxide (TiO) pigment, phosphate fertilizers, cement and zircon and zirconium industry in different...
A systematic overview of NORM related issues in mineral processing industries as production of phosphoric acid, titanium dioxide (TiO) pigment, phosphate fertilizers, cement and zircon and zirconium industry in different European countries is provided in this work. The current study tracks composition, content of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides (NOR) and their changes throughout the entire production cycle in these common and important industries: from raw materials, different production processes, end products, residues and wastes, and releases, with analysis of possible subsequent use of some by-products and residues in the concept of the circular economy.Such work improves the radiation protection knowledge in mineral processing industries, assists in the management of generated residues and wastes, and supports the regulatory decision-making process. A significant novelty is ensured through comprehensive comparison of the given mineral industries and respective NORM issues in various aspects - from legislative frameworks applied, NORM matrices with different NOR activity concentration and possible challenges with respect to recovery or disposal when they are above exemption or clearance levels of 1 kBq kg. This type of a systematic and comprehensive overview is especially important for European countries regarding the framework of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the circular economy, where resources are maximally used, the involvement of new ones is reduced, waste is avoided, and the life cycle of products is extended. Additionally, here presented inventory work is expected to be useful for many countries worldwide that are at the beginning of their NORM-involving practice mapping.
Comment on "Radiosensitization with metallic nanoparticles under MeV proton beams: local dose enhancement" by Mansouri et al.
Shmatov ML
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40956427 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Calculating the annual excess probability of cancer-related mortality: a case study of ionizing radiation and chemical exposure.
Kimura T, Sasaki M
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40952468 · Publisher ↗
Risk factors for cancer, such as ionizing radiation or chemical exposure, can be managed using risk-based approaches when clearly defined thresholds are absent. When considering different magnitudes of risk, it is crucia...
Risk factors for cancer, such as ionizing radiation or chemical exposure, can be managed using risk-based approaches when clearly defined thresholds are absent. When considering different magnitudes of risk, it is crucial to use the same indices and calculations to conduct proper comparisons. This study quantified the annual excess probability of cancer-related mortality by attained age for continuous occupational exposure to ionizing radiation or inorganic arsenic (during a working period at ages between 18 and 64 years), using a calculation method recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Calculations were conducted as a case study using the occupational exposure limits (OELs) in Japan from the Japanese population data. These calculations provided information regarding the age-dependent probability of excess annual mortality from exposure to inorganic arsenic. Excess lifetime mortality probability was also calculated based on the probability of the excess annual mortality. Notably, previous direct risk comparisons between the cancer-related risks associated with radiation and inorganic arsenic exposure should be interpreted with caution, because uncertainties and differences in risk models and regulatory approaches related to OELs were not considered in many of these comparisons. The present study provides basic information for conducting risk comparisons between radiation and chemicals. The results obtained should support the development of well-balanced regulations for radiation and chemicals, from a holistic point of view.
Response to comments by Shmatov on "Radiosensitization with metallic nanoparticles under MeV proton beams: local dose enhancement".
Mansouri E, Mesbahi A
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40952467 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Sodium orthovanadate alleviates lethal effect of total-body irradiation in mice without impairing recovery of male reproductive function.
Nishiyama Y, Sonoyama Y, Wang B … +6 more , Ghosh S, Krishnan P V S, Sasatani M, Shimokawa T, Aoki S, Morita A
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40928532 · Publisher ↗
Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate), a potent inhibitor of p53, has been shown in earlier work to alleviate total-body irradiation (TBI)-induced hematopoietic syndrome. However, as p53 plays a crucial role in normal spermato...
Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate), a potent inhibitor of p53, has been shown in earlier work to alleviate total-body irradiation (TBI)-induced hematopoietic syndrome. However, as p53 plays a crucial role in normal spermatogenesis, its suppression may raise concerns about potential adverse effects on male reproductive function. In this study, we investigated whether vanadate exacerbates impairment of male fertility when administered for hematopoietic protection under TBI conditions. Trp53 wild-type male ICR mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of vanadate or vehicle, followed by exposure to 6 Gy-TBI, corresponding to a testicular dose of 4.8 Gy. This radiation dose is sufficient to induce hematopoietic syndrome and temporary infertility. Spermatogenic function was assessed by analyzing testicular haploid cell populations and sperm morphology. Fertility recovery was evaluated through mating tests with virgin females, and transgenerational outcomes were assessed by analyzing litter size, fetal body weight, and implantation numbers. Our findings demonstrate that vanadate effectively rescued survival of irradiated animals under conditions known to induce the hematopoietic syndrome, without adversely affecting spermatogenesis. On the contrary, vanadate appeared to promote recovery from temporary infertility, likely through partial suppression of p53 accumulation and Bbc3 expression. This effect was more pronounced in Trp53 heterozygous mice, particularly in those irradiated at a young age. Importantly, the offspring derived from vanadate treated males with recovered fertility exhibited normal development, at least in terms of morphology. Taken together, vanadate confers hematopoietic protection under TBI without compromising, and possibly even supporting, male reproductive recovery. These findings suggest its potential for clinical use with low risk to male fertility.
The role of individual characteristics of human subjects on the radiation burden of the bronchial airways from radon progeny.
Füri P, Farkas Á, Hofmann W … +1 more , Madas BG
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40924151 · Full text
Variability in radiation-related health risk and genetic susceptibility to radiation effects within a population is a key issue for radiation protection. Besides differences in the health and biological effects of the sa...
Variability in radiation-related health risk and genetic susceptibility to radiation effects within a population is a key issue for radiation protection. Besides differences in the health and biological effects of the same radiation dose, individual variability may also affect dose distribution and its consequences for the same exposure. As exposure to radon progeny affects a large population and has a well-established dose-effect relationship, investigating individual variability upon radon exposure may be particularly important. Using the Stochastic Lung Model combined with mucociliary clearance and alpha-particle microdosimetry models, deposition rates and absorbed dose rates were determined for a healthy adult, a 5-year-old child, and an adult with severe asthma. The results show that children receive significantly higher absorbed dose rates in basal and secretory cell nuclei than healthy adults, despite lower deposition rates, due to smaller airways and thinner mucus layers. For individuals with severe asthma, both deposition rates and dose rates are higher due to airway contraction and slower mucus clearance, although increased mucus thickness reduces absorbed dose rates. These findings demonstrate that anatomical and physiological differences significantly influence absorbed doses in the lungs upon radon exposure and highlight the importance of accounting for individual variability in radiation protection and risk assessment.
Sensitivity of effective dose to changes in tissue weighting factors.
Otto T
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40856752 · Full text
Effective dose E is the radiological protection quantity for stochastic health effects from whole-body exposure to ionising radiation. It is defined as a weighted sum of average absorbed doses in 15 selected tissues (org...
Effective dose E is the radiological protection quantity for stochastic health effects from whole-body exposure to ionising radiation. It is defined as a weighted sum of average absorbed doses in 15 selected tissues (organs), with weighting factors for radiation effectiveness and tissue sensitivity. This paper analyses the sensitivity of effective dose E with respect to the tissue weighting factors [Formula: see text]. It shows that a change of any single weighting factor by 100% results in relative changes of effective dose by a few percent for photons above an energy of 50 keV and for neutrons. Larger variations are observed for neutrons with an energy around 1 MeV and photons with low energies. The organs close to the body surface, breast and skin, are identified as the cause for these larger variations. Absolute changes of effective dose remain small, with exception for persons predominately exposed to low-energy photon radiation.
Investigations of gamma ray shielding properties of TeO-MoO-NbO glasses.
Alipoor M
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40848151 · Publisher ↗
This study provides an analysis of glass composed of TeO, MoO, and NbO, focusing on its gamma ray shielding capabilities. The assessment of these capabilities was conducted using Geant4 simulations, which evaluated param...
This study provides an analysis of glass composed of TeO, MoO, and NbO, focusing on its gamma ray shielding capabilities. The assessment of these capabilities was conducted using Geant4 simulations, which evaluated parameters such as the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), transmission fractions, effective atomic number, half-value layer (HVL), and exposure buildup factor for photon energies ranging from 0.015 to 10 MeV. The comparison between the theoretical values obtained from Phy-X software and the simulated values from Geant4 revealed a deviation of less than 2%, indicating strong agreement across all glass samples at the examined energy levels. The MAC values for the selected samples varied from 35.57 to 0.034 cm/g, with glasses G-2 and G-3 demonstrating the highest values. The results for the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) indicated that as photon energy increased, the ability of photons to penetrate the glass also increased. At 662 keV, the LAC values of the tellurite glass were compared with those of lead glasses, revealing that G-3 and G-2 exhibited attenuation results comparable to 20% Pb glass. The analysis of the HVL indicated that the selected glasses showed values almost equal to other tellurite glasses containing lead and tungsten, highlighting their effective performance. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that the transmission factor rises with increasing photon energy. The radiation shielding efficiency results indicated that thicker glass samples absorb more photons, resulting in reduced radiation transmission and enhanced radiation protection effectiveness (RPE). The findings show that the radiation shielding efficiency for energies below 150 kV is close to 100%. The glasses made from TeO, MoO, and NbO are considered highly promising for applications requiring effective shielding against high-energy photons, while also maintaining high radiation shielding efficiency.
Evaluation of Oligo-Fucoidan as a potentially beneficial adjunct to BNCT in a novel oral cancer and precancer experimental model.
Palmieri MA, Goldfinger JA, Ramos PS … +10 more , Portu AM, Viglietti JS, Pozzi ECC, Thorp SI, Curotto P, Guidobono JS, Garabalino MA, Trivillin VA, Schwint AE, Monti Hughes A
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Nov · PMID 40828257 · Publisher ↗
The high mortality and morbidity of Head and Neck cancer patients and the toxicity associated to oncological treatments suggest the need for more selective and non-toxic therapies. BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) is...
The high mortality and morbidity of Head and Neck cancer patients and the toxicity associated to oncological treatments suggest the need for more selective and non-toxic therapies. BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) is based on the capture reaction between boron-10, selectively targeted to tumor tissue, and a thermal neutron. In this study, an oral cancer and precancer model was used to study the therapeutic effect and radiotoxicity of BNCT mediated by BPA (boronphenylalanine) [BPA-BNCT] at short and medium-term follow-up. Oligo-Fucoidan, an extract of Laminaria japonica brown seaweed, was evaluated as a potentially beneficial adjunct to BPA-BNCT. Hamsters were chemically cancerized over 8 weeks. Tumor bearing hamsters were assigned to: (CONTROL) cancerized, sham-irradiated group; BPA-BNCT 3 Gy absorbed dose to precancerous tissue; BPA-BNCT 3 Gy + Oligo-Fucoidan (200 mg/kg/day, for 16 days). Neutron irradiation was performed at the RA-3 Nuclear Reactor 3 h post administration of BPA (15.5 mg B/kg). Boron biodistribution and microdistribution studies were performed in BPA and BPA + Oligo-Fucoidan groups. Oligo-Fucoidan did not reduce either the incidence of moderate/severe mucositis or reduced the percentage of animals with new tumors in precancerous tissue. Oligo-Fucoidan did enhance BPA-BNCT-induced tumor response at one month (67-94%) and three months after BNCT (42-81%). To understand this effect, boron biodistribution and microdistribution studies were performed. They demonstrated a slight tendency of Oligo-Fucoidan to increase boron concentration in tumors. Oligo-Fucoidan, used in humans and clinical veterinary patients, would be a potentially beneficial adjunct to BNCT.
Dosimetric impact of CT-RED calibration curve variations from different kVp settings on breast cancer treatment planning.
Nhila O, Talbi M, El Mansouri M … +2 more , Erraoudi M, Chakir EM
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Aug · PMID 40742429 · Publisher ↗
The choice of a CT-RED calibration curve directly influences the accuracy of dose calculation in treatment planning systems (TPS), depending on treatment technique, anatomical site and calculation algorithm. This study a...
The choice of a CT-RED calibration curve directly influences the accuracy of dose calculation in treatment planning systems (TPS), depending on treatment technique, anatomical site and calculation algorithm. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of variations in CT-RED calibration curves due to different tube voltages (kVp) on breast cancer treatment plans as a function of calculation algorithm. CT-RED calibration curves were generated using a CIRS M062 phantom scanned with a 16-slice HITACHI Supria CT scanner at 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. These curves were applied to treatment plans for left breast cancer using the Collapsed Cone (CC) and X-ray Voxel-based Monte Carlo (XVMC++) algorithms in MONACO TPS (v6.6.2). Dose-volume histograms and dose statistics were analyzed to assess dose metrics for planned target volumes (PTV) and organs at risk (OAR). Monte Carlo-based dose calculations showed significant sensitivity to kVp settings, while CC results exhibited clinically negligible effects, underscoring that the impact of kVp on dose calculation depends on the algorithm used. Thus, to ensure accurate dose calculations, it is important to adjust calibration curves for each kVp setting when using Monte Carlo algorithms. Furthermore, it is recommended to include this adjustment into the CC algorithm, despite the minimal differences observed, in order to ensure consistency with the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle.
Monte Carlo calculation of correction factors for determining the operational quantity [Formula: see text] in solid phantoms for ISO narrow series photon sources.
Shrivastava V, Selvam TP, Pradhan SM
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Aug · PMID 40736586 · Full text
Although previous studies already reported on backscatter and depth dose correction factors for a Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) phantom to determine the operational quantity [Formula: see text], more comprehensive evalu...
Although previous studies already reported on backscatter and depth dose correction factors for a Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) phantom to determine the operational quantity [Formula: see text], more comprehensive evaluations for a wider range of tissue-equivalent phantoms are limited. Besides addressing this gap, the present study also provides phantom scatter correction factors for various phantoms. Correction factors were calculated to determine the [Formula: see text] in solid phantoms (PMMA, Polystyrene, Solid Water, Plastic Water, Virtual Water, RW3, WE210, and A150) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)-recommended PMMA-walled water phantom involving detector materials such as air, LiF and LiBO for ISO reference photon beams (N40, N80, N100, N150, N200, N250 x-rays and 662 keV gamma photon). The calculations were performed using the EGSnrc-based Monte Carlo code system. These correction factors include backscatter factor, depth dose factor and phantom scatter, for photon beams with normal incidence on the phantom. The calculated values of the backscatter and depth dose factors are in good agreement with published values for a PMMA phantom. The values of backscatter factor calculated in solid phantoms such as A150, Solid Water, Plastic Water, Virtual Water and WE210 were similar to those calculated in tissue phantom. The phantoms PMMA, Polystyrene and RW3 showed higher backscatter factor values in the energy range N40 - N100 as compared to the tissue phantom. The depth dose factors were comparable in all phantoms except in Polystyrene in which they were higher for N40 photons. The study shows that application of phantom scatter correction is important for phantoms such as PMMA (N40- N250), Polystyrene (N40- N150), RW3 (N40 & N80), Solid Water (N40 & N80), Virtual Water (N40 & N80) and WE210 (N40 & N80). A150, Plastic Water and PMMA-walled water phantoms behave like tissue-equivalent phantoms at all photon energies as the phantom scatter correction was in the range of 0.97-1.02, depending upon energy. This study demonstrates the importance of applying phantom scatter correction factors into the calculation of [Formula: see text], particularly for low-energy photon beams.
Human dose estimation of a novel SPECT imaging agent using animal experimental data and Monte Carlo simulation.
Zolghadri S, Ranjbar S, Taati F … +3 more , Karimian A, Yousefnia H, Sardjono Y
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Aug · PMID 40736585 · Publisher ↗
Undoubtedly, the precise measurement and determination of the optimum delivered dose to patients during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is essential. This study estimated the human absorbed dose of the novel GRPR-t...
Undoubtedly, the precise measurement and determination of the optimum delivered dose to patients during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is essential. This study estimated the human absorbed dose of the novel GRPR-targeting single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging agent [In]In-RM2 (GRPR - gastrin-releasing peptide receptor) for potential clinical application in diagnosing GRPR-positive tumors, particularly prostate cancer, using animal experimental data and Monte Carlo simulation. The radiolabeled compound was prepared under optimized conditions using an in-house developed Sn/In generator, with a molar activity at least 43 GBq/µmol. The radiochemical purity of the final product was evaluated using radio-thin layer chromatography (RTLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), revealing a purity > 98%. The complex demonstrated high stability for at least three hours post-incubation. The biodistribution of the radiotracer in mice showed rapid blood clearance, with the primary excretion route being the urinary tract. Additionally, this SPECT agent showed high accumulation in GRPR-expressing organs at various time points. The time-integrated activity of animal source organs was extrapolated to human source organs using a mass-scaling method. Finally, the absorbed dose to human organs was calculated using the MCNPX software (Version 2.6.0) and a voxel-based human phantom developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The results showed that the pancreas and kidneys received the highest absorbed doses of 0.008 ± 0.0007 and 0.0036 ± 0.0003 mGy/MBq, respectively, while all other organs received negligible doses. Moreover, this novel SPECT radiotracer exhibited lower absorbed doses in nearly all organs compared to similar radiopharmaceuticals. Overall, [In]In-RM2 can be considered a safe and promising agent for SPECT imaging.
Radon concentrations and CBC parameters in lung cancer patients at Al-Najaf governorate, Iraq.
Lawi DJ, Obaid IS, Abojassim AA … +1 more , Alkufi AA
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Aug · PMID 40728775 · Publisher ↗
The research described in this paper aimed to identify Rn concentrations in the serum of healthy individuals and lung cancer patients. Additionally, CBC parameters such as WBC (White Blood Cell count), RBC (Red Blood Cel...
The research described in this paper aimed to identify Rn concentrations in the serum of healthy individuals and lung cancer patients. Additionally, CBC parameters such as WBC (White Blood Cell count), RBC (Red Blood Cells), MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin), and PLT (Platelets) were measured and their correlation with the corresponding Rn concentrations in the serum of the lung cancer patients was investigated. Rn concentrations in serum samples were measured using a CR-39 detector. The mean Rn concentration in the serum of the patients was 22.62 ± 3.85 Bq/m, while that in serum of the healthy individuals was 2.72 ± 0.71 Bq/m. Also, it was found that the mean WBC, RBC, MCH, and PLT levels in the serum of the patients were 7.15 ± 0.58 cells/L, 4.24 ± 0.17 cells/L, 29.23 ± 0.60 pg, and 285.52 ± 21.78 cells/L, respectively. The results revealed statistically significant differences in Rn concentrations when comparing the samples of the patients with those of the healthy individuals. In addition, a reasonable correlation was found (p < 0.01) between the Rn concentrations and MCH levels in serum of the patients. It is concluded that, given the observed correlations, further studies are necessary to investigate whether there is any causal relationship behind the observed correlations.
Exposure to radon progeny and cancer mortality, excluding lung cancer, in the cohort of Newfoundland Fluorspar Miners between 1950 and 2016.
Villeneuve PJ, Morrison HI, Lane RSD
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Aug · PMID 40676180 · Full text
The increased risk of lung cancer from radon progeny among Newfoundland fluorspar miners is well established. In the present study, an internal cohort analysis was conducted to investigate whether radon progeny is also a...
The increased risk of lung cancer from radon progeny among Newfoundland fluorspar miners is well established. In the present study, an internal cohort analysis was conducted to investigate whether radon progeny is also associated with increased mortality from other cancers. Consequently, associations between cumulative radon progeny and cancer mortality (excluding lung cancer) were evaluated in a cohort of 2,110 miners. Mortality was ascertained from 1950 to 2016. Individual-level exposure to radon progeny in working level months (WLM) was determined for each miner during their employment. For cancers with at least ten deaths, Poisson regression was used to estimate excess relative risks (ERRs). Cancer site-specific relative risks were derived for mortality from common cancers within the cohort, specifically: colorectal, prostate, stomach and all cancers (excluding lung cancer). Relative risks were adjusted for age, calendar period, and the number of cigarettes smoked daily determined from smoking surveys. In total, 260 cancer deaths, excluding lung cancer, were identified during follow-up. The relative risk of death from these cancers was 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92, 1.75) among underground miners with a cumulative exposure of ≥ 50 WLM when compared to those with < 1 WLM. The ERR per 100 WLM for cancer mortality (excluding lung cancer) was 0.02 (95% CI=-0.01 to 0.05). No statistically significant increased risks with increasing exposure were found for bladder, colorectal, pancreatic, and stomach cancer. Overall, these findings provide modest evidence that radon progeny contributes to increased risks of cancer mortality (excluding lung cancer) among fluorspar miners. However, the precision of the estimates is limited by the small size of the cohort, which restricts the ability to draw firm conclusions regarding specific cancer sites. Future research should consider pooling data from radon-exposed occupational cohorts to better understand the association between radon exposure and the risk of cancers other than lung cancer.
Indoor radon and thoron in dwellings and workplaces across three contiguous geological formations in Southwest Nigeria.
Awe OO, Okeyode IC, Abayomi-Alli AO … +5 more , Mustapha AO, Kranrod C, Omori Y, Hosoda M, Tokonami S
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Aug · PMID 40676179 · Publisher ↗
The first regional survey of concurrent indoor radon and thoron measurements in Southwestern Nigeria was organized using the passive radon-thoron discriminative detectors RADUET. The measurements were carried out in vari...
The first regional survey of concurrent indoor radon and thoron measurements in Southwestern Nigeria was organized using the passive radon-thoron discriminative detectors RADUET. The measurements were carried out in various dwellings and workplaces across three geological formations within the Southwestern Nigeria basin, which consists of recent sediments in Akoka (Lagos State), cretaceous sediments known as Abeokuta formation in Ilishan (Ogun State), and basements in Alabata (Abeokuta, Ogun State). Both radon and thoron concentrations at 193 sites showed log-normal distributions, with significantly (p < 0.05) higher values of thoron than radon concentrations and a weak correlation (R = 0.224) between the two. The ranges and arithmetic means of the concentrations were 6-132 Bq mand 24 ± 21 Bq mfor radon and 2-709 Bq m and 94 ± 124 Bq m for thoron, respectively. ANOVA results showed significant variations in radon and thoron concentrations according to the underlying geology, with radon concentrations in Ilishan (cretaceous sedimentary) significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of Akoka (recent sedimentary) and Alabata (basement complex). No significant differences (p = 0.09) were found between thoron concentrations in Alabata and Ilishan, and both locations had significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of thoron than those recorded in Akoka. A test of the influence of building types showed that radon and thoron concentrations in offices were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those in homes. None of the thoron concentrations were zero, and almost all were higher than the corresponding radon concentrations. Some of the radon concentrations exceeded the recommended reference level of 100 Bq m, but all were below the action level of 300 Bq m. This study has shown that with high concentrations of thoron, its contributions should not be neglected in indoor radon measurements, particularly in the areas with old sedimentary and basement complex geology. It is noted that dose evaluation is required to quantify the relative contributions of radon and thoron to human exposures in the three locations. Meanwhile, occupants of buildings in the study areas should be encouraged to optimize indoor ventilation.
Intelligent assistant in radiation protection based on large language model with knowledge base.
Hu A, Li K, Wu Z … +3 more , Zhang H, Qiu R, Li J
Radiat Environ Biophys · 2025 Aug · PMID 40601002 · Publisher ↗
Radiation protection is a critical pillar supporting the use of nuclear energy and nuclear technologies. The radiation protection system has been established with the accumulation of knowledge and experience. However, it...
Radiation protection is a critical pillar supporting the use of nuclear energy and nuclear technologies. The radiation protection system has been established with the accumulation of knowledge and experience. However, it is challenging for an individual or even a committee to master related knowledge and experience comprehensively and meticulously. An intelligent assistant that possesses extensive knowledge and experience in radiation protection is eagerly required. In this work, we propose an intelligent assistant in radiation protection based on a Large Language Model (LLM) with a knowledge base. The assistant can provide reliable answers with references from authoritative publications. The assistant was developed using open-source toolkits and open-source LLMs, and demonstrated satisfying answers to professional queries. Users can obtain reliable answers with references through the web-based user interface (UI). The assistant is designed for local deployment and utilizes private datasets, thereby addressing issues related to privacy and data security. The effectiveness of the assistant was evaluated by comparing it with LLM applications with web search. The results show that our method with a much smaller number of model parameters can deliver more precise and pertinent responses within the domain of radiation protection than web search-based systems. This work is a preliminary attempt to establish an intelligent assistant in the field of radiation protection, and it shows the potential for using LLM to increase efficiency in radiation protection-related tasks.
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