Topics include radiation biology, radiation dosimetry, and environmental measurements. In addition, medical health physics studies are conducted in conjunction with the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Radon Assay Laboratory has been established for studies related to indoor radon hazards.
Research is in progress on aerosol microphysics in gas-phase and radon daughter atom deposition.
Related studies are conducted on aerosol evolution. This research also involves development of models for specific organs for use in nuclear medicine and other evaluations of internal exposure. Current projects have involved development of new dosimetric models of the brain, trabecular bone and the gastrointestinal tract. The department is also involved in evaluating internal dosimetry programs in the nuclear utility environment, particularly whole body counting systems and existing computer software for assessing intakes and assigning committed and effective dose equivalents. These codes are used to study mechanisms of DNA damage by the indirect action of ionizing radiation.