Monte Carlo design study for in vivo bone aluminum measurement using a lowenergy accelerator beam

The need for aluminum monitoring exists in occupational medicine, as well a s for the clinical monitoring of patients with renal dysfunction. After the development of an appropriate neutron source card, Monte Carlo simulations were made to design moderator/reflector assembly consisting of a polyethyl ene moderator (2 cm) and graphite reflector (30 cm), surrounded by a borona ted (5%) wax (20 cm) and lead (1 cm) shield. This design should allow for t he bone aluminum measurement of healthy subjects, but prior to that detaile d microdosimetry is necessary to address a noticed disagreement between the oretical and experimental dose data. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.