|
||||||||||||||||||
Answer to Question #5223 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"Category: Security Screening — Airport Screening The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q
Shipment of blood products via airports currently have "do not x ray" stickers affixed to the package. Many airlines and airports in compliance with TSA (Transportation Security Agency) guidelines are requiring visual and hand inspection of packages that have this designation. To prevent contamination of sterile blood products as well as to observe security procedures, the possibility of x-ray screening of blood products was introduced. The concern is that the blood cells, specifically, the T-lymphocytes, will undergo some change which will alter their function as a result of the low-dose radiation received from airport check-in luggage/cargo x-ray equipment. Is there evidence that says otherwise? The only thing I found was from Petzer, et al., from Blood, 2002.
A
Very interesting question. Immature T cells are quite sensitive to radiation. One gray (1 Gy, gray is a unit of radiation dose) can trigger rapid apoptosis in and out of the body. Mature T cells are much less sensitive. What is very interesting is that, often, blood products are intentionally irradiated to very high doses to prevent graft versus host disease which occurs when lymphocytes mount an attack on the healthy tissue of the recipient of the blood product. In this case, blood products are exposed to approximately 25-35 Gy or more. I talked to one of our radiation oncologists and our radiation biologist. Both agreed that at high doses (minimally about 1 Gy) apoptosis was induced in lymphocytes. At the levels of radiation exposure due to security screening (0.00001 Gy for a baggage screening system to 0.0005 Gy for a cargo container screening system), the induction of apoptosis is very unlikely, but remember that few have really looked at such low doses causing effects on lymphocytes. These doses are on the order of daily background radiation. So, what I learned from our radiation oncologist and radiation biologist is right in line with the conclusions of Petzer, et al.—that blood products can be screened for security purposes. Kelly Classic
Answer posted on 16 March 2006. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.
|
||||||||||||||||||
| This page last updated 27 August 2011. Ask Question | Search ATE | Site Map | Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Webmaster | ||||||||||||||||||
