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Survival of Mammalian Cells Exposed to Ultrahigh Dose Rates from a Laser-produced Plasma X-ray Source¹

¹ From the Division of Atomic Physics, Lund Institute of Technology, Sweden (C.T., I.M., S.S.); the Department of Radiation Physics, Jubileum Institute, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden (G.G., A.C.J., B.A.J., S.E.S.); and the Department of Radiation Physics, University Hospital Malmo, Sweden (S.M.). Received June 18, 1998; revision requested July 21; revision received March 10, 1999; accepted July 1. Supported in part by the Swedish Medical Research Council, the Swedish Natural Sciences Research Council, Mrs Berta Kamprad's Cancer Foundation, and Gunnar, Arvid, and Elisabeth Nilsson's Foundation. Address reprint requests to B.A.J.

PURPOSE: To determine whether intense laser-produced x rays have an increased radiation hazard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mammalian cells were exposed to x rays from a laser-produced plasma that produced ultrahigh peak absorbed dose rates, up to a factor of 10¹⁰ higher than those produced by conventional x rays used in imaging. The cell survival was studied as a function of the absorbed dose. The survival of mammalian cells exposed to high peak absorbed dose rates with laser-produced x rays was compared with the survival of cells exposed to standard absorbed dose rates with conventional x-ray sources. Comparative survival studies were performed by using a conventional x-ray tube and a cobalt 60 source. The absorbed doses in the irradiation field were measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters.

RESULTS: Cell survival following irradiation by filtered, laser-produced x rays with a high dose rate was not markedly different from the survival following irradiation by conventional sources. There was, however, a notable difference between the survival after exposure to filtered, laser-produced x rays and the survival after exposure to unfiltered laser-produced x rays.

CONCLUSION: Exposure to filtered, laser-produced x rays with a high dose rate does not lead to increased harm to mammalian cells exposed in vitro compared with the harm from exposure to x rays from conventional sources, which indicates that the use of high-power laser facilities for medical imaging is justified.

Index terms: Dosimetry, _**.11³ • Lasers • Radiations, injurious effects, _**.47 • Radiations, measurement, _**.11 • Radiobiology, cell and tissue studies, _**.47 • Radiography, _**.11

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