Use of a plasma focus device to study pulsed x-ray effects on peripheral blood lymphocytes: Analysis of chromosome aberrations

X-ray pulses (full width at half maximum ∼ 90 ns, dose rate 107 Gy s−1) were used to irradiate the monolayer of peripheral blood mononucleated cells using PF-2kJ kilojoule plasma focus device. Four different exposure conditions evaluated 5, 10, 20, and 40 pulses, with mean measured by TLD-100 being 0.12 ± 0.02 mGy, 0.14 0.03 0.22 0.06 0.47 0.09 respectively. Cytogenetic analysis showed an increase in all types chromosomal aberrations following x-ray pulses. The distribution dicentrics centric rings was overdispersed after Additionally, 20 presence tricentric chromosomes is detected. Chromosome aberration frequencies found this study always higher than estimated chromosome published dose–effect curves for conventional radiation sources. overdispersion observed, elevated relative biological effectiveness (RBEM) relatively low doses (<0.5 Gy) seem indicate that pulsed x-rays energy show similar effects as those observed high-LET radiation. emitted be more efficient inducing aberrations, even α particles.