Remarks on Oxygen Effects

Oxygen concentration will influence the alpha- and beta-effect (two-component theory of radiation effects) independently. The beta-effect is reduced by a dose-modifying factor gamma. Oxygen, in competition with enzyme repair actions fortifies a part of the beta-lesions and this model leads to a simple equation for the factor gamma. The alpha-effect is also enhanced by oxygen. Measurements of OER indicate that the reduction of the effect from aerobic to anoxic condition might be about 70%. The functional dependence of oxygen concentration has not been investigated. For small oxygen concentrations of 0.15 to 0.5 muM/l and doses below 1000 R Révész and Littbrand have found that oxygen can protect the irradiated cells and thus increase survivals with about 10%. This is explained as a scavenger action where radical hydrogen atoms are oxidized and hydrated electrons captured by oxygen moelcules. When the oxygen concentration is increased, or with higher doses, the usual sensitizing effect of oxygen exceeds the protection effect. The influence of oxygen on alpha-effects are mainly connected with indirect radiation effects and thus depend on temperature and milieu.