title: Oxygen effect, hydrogen peroxide yields, and time scale of interaction of potentially damaging species in electron pulse irradiated bacterial spores.
abstract: A given integrated radiation dose delivered from a LINAC as a train of pulses (50/s), characteristically of 0.1 to 5 microseconds pulse length with dose rates within the pulse between 0.38 and 38 krads/microsecond, inactivates bacterial spores in water suspension more effectively than the same dose given as Co60 gamma rays. This enhancement of radiation damage occurs both in the presence and in the absence of oxygen and is not explained by either pulse dose rate or pulse length alone, but is monotonically related to the product of these pulse parameters, pulse dose. The enhancement appears to result from the interaction, within individual spores, of free radical species of average lifetime of about 2-5 microseconds. The time scale over which these species operate suggests that they are freely diffusable. Prevention, in part, of their damaging effect by the presence of selective scavenging agents is evidence that OH radicals are involved. Measurements of H2O2 yield for irradiation conditions that show a gradation of enhancement of damage correlate strongly with the extent of damage observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, England.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tallentire
mesh_terms: D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004583:Electrons; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000494:pharmacology; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011675:Pulse Radiolysis; D011854:Radiochemistry; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen