An Oxygen-Dependent X-Ray Dose-Rate Effect in Serratia marcescens

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Anoxic bacteria were found to be independent of x-ray dose rate between 167 and 2130 rads/min. Fully aerobic bacteria were less sensitive to radiation at low dose rates. Aerobic bacteria at very low oxygen tensions were more sensitive to radiation at low dose rates. A possible explanation for the observed phenomenon is to assume repair of radiation damage. Repair of radiation damage in Serratia was demonstrated by preliminary UV treatment. At the lowest oxygen tension a change in the observed K value with dose rate demonstrated oxygen depletion by radiation. Measurements of K values at conventional dose rates are liable to be in error unless gas equilibration is very efficient.