title: A study on the effects of seasonal solar radiation on exposed populations.
abstract: In the present study the effects of seasonal solar radiation (summer and winter) on exposed populations of two different age groups (20-25 and 40-55 years old) were investigated. In addition, the effects of external factors, such as hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and gamma-irradiation, as well as the repair efficiency of human lymphocytes from these populations, was also evaluated. Our results show that the amount of DNA damage appears to be influenced by the exposure to solar radiation, with the summer exposure being the most damaging. Age was also found to be a significant factor, with the older population being more susceptible to solar radiation than the younger one. Season does not appear to affect the sensitivity to external DNA-damaging agents, while age does. Age was also found to have an effect on the DNA repair capacity of the examined populations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, National Center for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', 153 10 Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Smaragdi I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Tsilimigaki
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Messini-Nikolaki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanariou
authors.forename: Stylianos M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Piperakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D005615:Freezing; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide