Development and characterization of a DNA solar dosimeter

✍ Scribed by Yasuhito Ishigaki; Akishige Takayama; Shiori Yamashita; Osamu Nikaido

• Book ID: 104373516
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 460 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1011-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/s1011-1344(99)00090-1

✦ Synopsis

In this paper, we report the development and characterization of a solar ultraviolet (UV) dosimetry system that can be used as a film badge for radiation monitoring. DNA molecules are coated on a thin nylon membrane as a UV dosimeter. The membrane is sealed in a polyethylene filter envelope with silica gel to keep the humidity low. After exposure to UV or solar light, induced DNA damage is measured by an immunochemical reaction. The intensity of color developed during the immunological reaction can be correlated linearly with the irradiated UV dose delivered by an Oriel solar simulator within a limited dose range. We observe no effects of temperature on the level of damage induction. The membrane is proficient for measuring DNA damage for more than 21 days when stored at either 37 or 4°C. The induced damage remains stable on the membrane for at least 22 days at both 37 and 4°C. In addition to these indoor experiments, we report measurements of solar UV dose in outdoor experiments.