Metabolism in tooth enamel and reliability of retrospective dosimetry

Most of the radiation centers in tooth enamel and bones are formed by the r eactions COOH + gamma --> CO2- + H+, and CO2 + e(-) --> CO2-. These centers can be easily changed by metabolism and have a low stability in living organisms. The efficiency of CO2- radical production by irradiati on is substantially different for teeth and bones in living rat, dead rat, and teeth and bone removed from rat. It is shown that the suitability of to oth enamel for retrospective dosimetry can be evaluated from the anisotropy of its EPR signals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.