Estimate of the Deterministic Neutron RBE for Radiation-induced Pseudo-Pelger Huët Cell Formation

Using archival peripheral blood slides from radiation accident patients, we have recently described the pseudo-Pelger Huët anomaly (PPHA) in neutrophils as a new radiation-induced biomarker, useful for dosimetry not only immediately after a radiation incident but also potentially helpful as a tool in retrospective dosimetry. In conjunction with the Radiation Accident Registry at the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS), the frequency of PPHA cells has been compared from selected patients in the Y-12 criticality accident in Oak Ridge, TN, in 1958 and from the patient in the 1971 60 Co accident at the USAEC Comparative Animal Research Laboratory (CARL), also in Oak Ridge. Patients A, C, and D in the Y-12 accident are described as having an average dose of 2.53 ± 0.14 Gy gamma + 0.90 ± 0.05 Gy neutron, while the patient in the CARL event had 2.6 Gy gamma dose from event reconstruction. Since the average gamma energies are almost identical in these two cohorts, it is possible to estimate the deterministic neutron relative biological effectiveness (RBE d ) for PPHA formation in a criticality event. The neutron RBE d calculated in this way is an average value over the neutron fission energy spectrum and is found to be 3.4 ± 0.6, in good agreement with the currently recommended value of 3 for acute neutron dose to red marrow.