Re: dissolved gases and their effects on DNA damage

["Jerry Cohen" <jjcohen@prodigy.net>]

Andy,
    One hypothesis that has been given to account for the lower cancer
incidence in the mountain states is that the lower oxygen tension at high
altitude suppresses oxygen caused DNA aberrations. Another theory relates to
hormesis from increased background radiation levels. Take your pick.
Jerry


-----Original Message-----
From: Karam, Andrew <Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Thursday, August 03, 2000 8:17 AM
Subject: dissolved gases and their effects on DNA damage


>I have been doing some reading on the effects of oxygen in modifying
>radiogenic damage to DNA.  This has led me to wonder if anyone knows of any
>other gases that have been noted to modify DNA damage rates (either enhance
>OR reduce radiogenic damage).  I would imagine, for example, that dissolved
>hydrogen might serve to reduce damage because its presence might help
>scavenge free oxygen.  But I haven't a clue as to whether or not, day,
>dissolved CO2, N2, sulfur compounds, methane, etc. might do anything.
>
>I'd appreciate any comments, speculation, or suggested reading on this
>matter.   Thanks!
>
>Andy
>
>Andrew Karam, CHP              (716) 275-1473 (voice)
>Radiation Safety Officer          (716) 275-3781 (office)
>University of Rochester           (716) 256-0365 (fax)
>601 Elmwood Ave. Box HPH   Rochester, NY  14642
>
>Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu
>http://Intranet.urmc.rochester.edu/RadiationSafety
>
>If a man never contradicts himself, the reason must be that he virtually
>never says anything at all.  (Miguel de Unamuno, quoted in "What is Life?"
>by Erwin Schrodinger)
>
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