Quantitative Relations between Doses of Chemical Protective Agents and Doses of X-irradiation

Abstract

IN a previous paper¹ we quoted a number of results appearing in the literature which demonstrate quantitative relationships between the dose of protective agent and radiation dose. This applies especially to sulphydryl substances. In assuming that the sulphydryl protective agents act as radical scavengers this can be easily understood. Higher radiation doses may produce higher concentrations of radicals in the tissue and for this reason the concentration of radical scavengers must also be higher. Contrary to this, high radical scavenger doses may have relatively less protective effect in lower radiation doses. The increase rate of the protective effect of such agents is larger for higher radiation doses than for lower ones.