Radiation Induced Damage to the Cells of Pig Hairs: A Biological Indicator of Radiation Dose and Dose Distribution in Skin

Radiation damage to the matrix cells of actively growing pig hairs resulted in a transient reduction in diameter. This was clearly dose dependent for doses in the range 0.5-5 Gy for 250 kV X rays and 3-8 Gy surface dose for 90Sr ß rays. While the relationship between the perentage reduction in hair diameter and the X ray dose was linear between 0.5 and 5 Gy, the skin surface dose for ß rays and the percentage reduction in hair diameter was found to be best fitted by a quadratic equation. Differences in the effect produced by X and ß ray irradiation can be attributed to the absorption of ß rays with depth in the dermis and a correction for this has been applied. This system would appear to have considerable potential for use as a biological dosemeter.