Dose estimations of fast neutrons from a nuclear reactor by micronuclear yields in onion seedlings

J Radiat Res. 1999 Dec:40 Suppl:28-35. doi: 10.1269/jrr.40.s28.

Abstract

Irradiations of onion seedlings with fission neutrons from bare, Pb-moderated, and Fe-moderated 252Cf sources induced micronuclei in the root-tip cells at similar rates. The rate per cGy averaged for the three sources, <bn>, was 19 times higher than rate induced by 60Co gamma-rays. When neutron doses, Dn, were estimated from frequencies of micronuclei induced in onion seedlings after exposure to neutron-gamma mixed radiation from a 1 W nuclear reactor, using the reciprocal of <bn> as conversion factor, resulting Dn values agreed within 10% with doses measured with paired ionizing chambers. This excellent agreement was achieved by the high sensitivity of the onion system to fast neutrons relative to gamma-rays and the high contribution of fast neutrons to the total dose of mixed radiation in the reactor's field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fast Neutrons*
  • Micronucleus Tests / methods*
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Onions / radiation effects
  • Radiation Tolerance
  • Radiometry / methods