Low-cost system turns smartphones into emergency radiation detectors

A low-cost, portable radiation dosimetry system uses a smartphone and radiochromic film to provide immediate on-site dose assessments of radiation.

2026-01-27

(Press-News.org) Prompt, individual-based dose assessment is essential to protect people from the negative consequences of radiation exposure after large-scale nuclear or radiological incidents. However, traditional dosimetry methods often require expensive equipment or complex laboratory analysis. Now, researchers at Hiroshima University have developed a cost-effective, portable dosimetry system that can provide immediate on-site readings using radiochromic film and a smartphone.

The study, published in Radiation Measurements, demonstrates a practical solution for personal preparedness in mass-casualty events. The system combines a small piece of Gafchromic EBT4 film with a foldable, battery-powered portable scanner and a smartphone camera.

"To protect people in the event of a severe radiological or nuclear accident, voluntary on-site dose assessments and prompt decisions regarding medical actions must be performed immediately," says study corresponding author Hiroshi Yasuda, a professor at Hiroshima University’s Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine. "Simplicity, universality, and cost-effectiveness are critical factors for these emergency measures."

The EBT4 film is designed to change color instantly when exposed to radiation, a change that can be detected by the naked eye. By placing the film in a portable scanner and capturing an image with a smartphone, users can quantify relatively high radiation doses—up to 10 Gray—using mobile image-processing applications. To put this into perspective, a 10 Gray dose to the skin is high enough to cause permanent hair loss.

The research team tested the system using various smartphone models, including Samsung and iPhone devices. Their analysis showed that the cyan color channel in digital images provided the most consistent and reliable dose-response data. While professional desktop scanners offer higher precision, this smartphone-based approach provides an adequate solution that is highly portable and costs less than USD$70.

"Our goal was to design a system that works even under the worst-case accident scenarios, such as after a natural disaster where infrastructure might be damaged," Yasuda adds. The team is now working to standardize the protocols and ensure the system remains reliable under diverse environmental conditions.

###

The study was co-authored by doctoral student Hassna Bantan and Professor Hiroshi Yasuda, both at Hiroshima University’s Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine.

The open access publication costs for this paper were supported by Hiroshima University.

About Hiroshima University

Since its foundation in 1949, Hiroshima University has striven to become one of the most prominent and comprehensive universities in Japan for the promotion and development of scholarship and education. Consisting of 12 schools for undergraduate level and 5 graduate schools, ranging from natural sciences to humanities and social sciences, the university has grown into one of the most distinguished comprehensive research universities in Japan. English website: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Menopause linked to loss of grey matter in the brain, poorer mental health and sleep disturbance

2026-01-27

Menopause is linked to reductions in grey matter volume in key brain regions as well as increased levels of anxiety and depression and difficulties with sleep, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The study, published today in Psychological Medicine, found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) does not appear to mitigate these effects, though it can slow the decline in reaction times. Menopause is a key period in a woman’s life when her periods stop, due to lower hormone levels. It typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, during which time they ...

New expert guidelines standardize diagnosis and monitoring of canine dementia

2026-01-26

An international group of experts has developed new guidelines to help veterinarians better recognize and diagnose canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), commonly known as canine dementia. The condition affects many older dogs and can cause changes in behavior, sleep, learning, and daily routines, yet it is often overlooked despite its significant impact on animal welfare. The guidelines also highlight that research on canine dementia has the potential to contribute to our understanding of human dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. Many dogs older than eight years show signs of cognitive dysfunction, which are ...

Study links salty drinking water to higher blood pressure, especially in coastal areas

2026-01-26

Salt is usually something people are warned to limit in food, not drinking water. But a global analysis suggests sodium in tap water may be an overlooked contributor to high blood pressure, particularly in coastal regions. The study, published in BMJ Global Health, found that higher salinity in drinking water was associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of hypertension. The research was led by Florida International University scientists, including Rajiv Chowdhury, chair of the Department of Global Health at FIU’s Robert Stempel ...

Study reveals struggles precede psychosis risk by years, suggesting prevention opportunities

2026-01-26

MSU has a satellite uplink/LTN TV studio and Comrex line for radio interviews upon request. People experience psychosis when they lose touch with reality. This can involve hallucinations, delusions or difficulty deciphering what is real and truthful. Researchers at Michigan State University worked with a team across the globe to investigate cognitive testing and symptoms, finding that functional decline and negative symptoms appear to develop well before psychosis-risk syndromes are identified. The ...

Nearly half of CDC surveillance databases have halted updates, raising concerns about health data gaps

2026-01-26

Follow @Annalsofim on X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, ...

Study compares ways to support opioid deprescribing in primary care

2026-01-26

Original Research Study Compares Ways to Support Opioid Deprescribing in Primary Care Background: This study examined how different types of support for 32 primary care clinics affected opioid prescribing and overall costs using a 2 x 2 design. Clinics were divided into four groups: education about opioid prescribing and regular feedback on their prescribing patterns only; education and feedback plus help changing clinic workflows; education and feedback plus coaching for prescribers; or education and feedback plus both clinic ...

Primary care home visits for older adults declined after payment policy changes and COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada

2026-01-26

Original Research Primary Care Home Visits for Older Adults Declined After Payment Policy Changes and COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada Background: In Ontario, primary care home visits, which help older adults who are homebound or have difficulty getting to a clinic, increased during the 2010s but declined after a 2019 policy change reduced payment incentives and the COVID-19 pandemic began. This study examined how primary care home visits for adults aged 65 years and older changed from 2014 to 2024. What They Found: Researchers used population-level health administrative data and an interrupted time series analysis of monthly home visit rates for Ontario residents ...

Linking financial incentives to improved blood sugar levels may support type 2 diabetes management

2026-01-26

Original Research Linking Financial Incentives to Improved Blood Sugar Levels May Support Type 2 Diabetes Management Background: In this randomized controlled trial in Israel, researchers examined whether a contingent discount as a financial incentive on medication expenses could help people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes better manage their blood sugar. The study included 186 adults from neighborhoods with low socioeconomic status and followed them for six months. Intervention participants received discounts on their diabetes medications if their blood sugar levels improved, while participants in the control group paid ...

Care continuity linked to fewer hospital visits for older adults receiving home-based care

2026-01-26

Original Research Care Continuity Linked to Fewer Hospital Visits for Older Adults Receiving Home-Based Care Background: This study examined whether continuity of care (how often patients see their assigned physician and nurse) was associated with urgent care use and hospital admissions among older adults receiving permanent home-based primary care. What They Found: Researchers analyzed electronic health record data from three primary care centers in Barcelona, Spain, including 1,207 patients receiving permanent home-based ...

Produce prescriptions improve nutrition for medicaid patients with diabetes

2026-01-26

Original Research Produce Prescriptions Improve Nutrition for Medicaid Patients With Diabetes Background: To improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for Medicaid patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health partnered with three Federally Qualified Health Centers to implement a produce prescription program. Participants received $40 per month for six months on a debit card that could only be used to buy eligible fresh fruits and vegetables at participating grocery stores. This before-and-after ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Smoke from wildfires linked to 17,000 strokes in the US alone

Air frying fatty food better for air quality than alternatives – if you clean it, study says

Most common methods of inducing labour similarly effective

Global health impacts of plastics systems could double by 2040