Variability in the Oxygen Effect Observed with Micro-organisms

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Abstract
Post-irradiation conditions of culture are considerably more effective in altering the response of E. coli B to ionizing radiation if this has been delivered in anoxic conditions. Thus the oxygen-enhancement ratio depends on conditions of culture, and has been found to vary from 1·6 to 3·7. A linear relationship exists between 37 per cent dose and oxygen-enhancement ratio. This supports the inference that radiation causes lethal damage by inflicting at least two different types of injury, one of which is much more affected by the presence of oxygen during irradiation.