Chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes exposed to tritiated water in vitro.
The induction of chromosome aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes by tritiated water or 180 kV X-rays in vitro was studied. Lymphocytes were exposed to various concentrations of HTO for 2 h or for 53 h. Chromosome and chromatid type aberrations were scored during the first mitotic division after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin. For the analysis of the dose-response relationship the data were fitted by the method of least-squares to different models. After acute exposure to tritium beta-rays and X-rays, the dicentrics + centric rings and terminal + interstitial deletions gave the best fit to the linear-quadratic function. However, data for these types of aberrations after 53 h exposure to HTO gave equally good fit to the linear and linear-quadratic functions. The best description of the dose-response relationship for chromatid aberrations is given by the linear model. In the system studied the RBE of tritium beta-rays as compared to 180 KV X-rays was 1.17 +/- 0.02.
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002842:Chromatids / Q000528:radiation effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004583:Electrons; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D014316:Tritium