Electron paramagnetic resonance dose response studies for neutron irradiated human teeth

The dosimetric response of neutron irradiated human tooth enamel has been investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry. Continuous energy fast neutrons of mean energy less than 450 keV were produced from the McMaster University 3 MV K.N. Van de Graaff accelerator employing a thick lithium target via 7Li(p,n)7Be interaction. Prior to its use for various experiments, the gamma dose contamination of the neutron beams was determined at the selected proton beam energies using the tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC). The neutron sensitivity (/Gy-100 mg) of human tooth enamel remained constant for various mean neutron energies ranging from 167 to 450 keV. Similarly, the EPR signal intensity remained independent of the neutron dose rate variation from 0.5 to 2.4 Gy/h.