Have Your Been Exposed to Radiation?
Your Teeth Hold the Answer
Ever wondered whether you have been exposed to radiation? I know I have. A team of researchers at Howard University in the Washington College of Dentistry are developing a way to determine the levels of radiation exposure to which you may have been exposed. Now a little piece of tooth can tell your radiation history over your lifetime.
Howard University scientists believe that important data about a person’s exposure to radiation is stored in their tooth enamel. The method they use—Electron Paramagnetic Resonance or EPR for short—helps determine the level of free radicals in substances such as tooth enamel. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms having at least one unpaired electron, which make them unstable and highly reactive.
So what benefit is there to knowing the answers which are likely to freak you out anyway? Scientists believe that this type of analysis will help medical workers to divide victims of radiation exposure into groups according to their level of exposure. They can, for example use this knowledge in treating people who have been exposed to radiation, either by accident or by exposure to radiation dispersal device, better known as a “dirty bomb”. EPR can also be used to help determine levels of cancer risk and to provide data for further studies.
And the process won’t hurt even a bit. A tiny piece of tooth is removed by a dentist without damaging the tooth. When analyzed with microwaves, free radicals absorb the waves, enabling trained professionals measure the amount of free radicals in the sample.
A few issues have to be ironed out before the procedure is practically possible in an emergency. At present, dental tools are needed to remove the enamel making the procedure less useful in an emergency. Also, EPR currently detects only high levels of radiation, so that samples from people with moderate or minimal radiation exposure may not provide an accurate reading. The Howard University researchers are working on creating a machine that can produce higher-frequency microwave energy for quick and accurate results of various levels of radiation exposure.
In its present state, the EPR is useful for gathering data for other studies such as finding out the influence of radiation exposure on cancer risk.
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