Preparation-induced errors in EPR dosimetry of enamel: pre- and post-crushing sensitivity.

Polyakov et al. (1995) showed errors in dose estimation as a function of grain size for enamel grains given beta irradiation after crushing. We tested the effect of gamma irradiation applied to the specimens before and after crushing. We confirmed Polyakov's observations and found that post-crushing irradiation altered the slope of the dose-response curve of the hydroxyapatite signal and produced a grain-size-dependent offset. No changes in the slope of the dose-response curve were seen in enamel caps irradiated whole before crushing.