Mammalian cells were exposed to a range of low dose-rates from radium and californium 252. From the results obtained, it was possible to calculate the biological effectiveness of the mixed neutron and gamma-ray emission from 252Cf relative to radium gamma rays. It was found that this RBE increased as the dose-rate was decreased, according to the relationship RBE of 252Cf compared to radium α (californium dose-rate)−0.47. This factor, together with the already high RBE of neutrons, calls for extreme caution in the handling and clinical use of 252Cf.
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Hall et al. (1971) studied this question.