Measurement of the Radiation Dose Cuticles Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)

Primary Outcome Measures:

• Mean Dose of Radiation Received by Fingernails [ Time Frame: 2.5 years ]
  The mean dose in gray of radiation exposure to participants fingernails as determined by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR).
  
  

Secondary Outcome Measures:

• Determination of the Range of Background Signal Measured by the EPR Device. [ Time Frame: 2.5 years ]
  

In the event of a radiological exposure incident, such as the detonation of a radiological dispersion device (RDD) in a terrorist attack or accidental exposures to sources of ionizing radiation, it is advantageous to use multiple methods to assess the dosimetry of individuals exposed to this radiation (4). These methods should include a physical assessment of the dosimetry at the exposure site to, 1) identify the type of radiation (e.g., gamma rays, neutrons or radioisotopes), 2) evaluate the distribution of radioisotopes and/or radioactivity at the site, and 3) determine the location of exposed individuals to the source of radiation. For individuals affected by the radiological incident, the monitoring of their clinical signs and symptoms is important for determining whether acute symptoms of radiation sickness are being presented and if immediate medical intervention is required. However, it is recognized that an invaluable aid for the clinical management of exposed individuals is the use of biomarkers that can be readily obtained from the exposed individual and used for assessing dosimetry (4,9). Biomarkers that are most useful to the physician are those produced or expressed within minutes to hours following exposure. With the dosimetry provided through these early phase biomarker measurements, the physician can better assess the clinical signs that are presented by an exposed individual and better determine the need and course of treatment.