Evaluation of DNA dosimetry to assess ozone-mediated variability of biologically harmful radiation in Antarctica
George, Alison L.; Peat, Helen J. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2017-8597; Buma, Anita G.J..
2002
Evaluation of DNA dosimetry to assess ozone-mediated variability of biologically harmful radiation in Antarctica.
Photochemistry and Photobiology, 76 (3).
274-280.
10.1562/0031-8655(2002)076<0274:EODDTA>2.0.CO;2
Abstract/Summary
In this study we investigated the use of a DNA dosimeter to accurately measure changes in ultraviolet B radiation (UVBR; 280-315 nm) under Antarctic ozone hole conditions. Naked DNA solution in quartz tubes was exposed to ambient solar radiation at Rothera Research Station, Antarctica, between October and December 1998 for 3 h during UVBR peak hours (1200-1500 h). Trends in UVBR-mediated DNA damage (formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers [CPD]) were related to cloud cover, ozone-column depth and spectroradiometric measurements of ambient radiation. Ozone-column depths ranged from 130 to 375 DU during the study period, resulting in highly variable UVBR doses, from 1.6 to 137 kJ m(-2) over the 3 h exposure, as measured by spectro-radiometry. There was a strong positive correlation (86%) between dosimeter CPD concentrations and DNA-weighted UVBR doses. Ozone depth was a strong predictor of DNA damage (63%), and there was no significant relationship between CPD formation and cloud cover. Subtle changes in spectral characteristics caused by ozone depletion were detected by the biodosimeter; the highest CPD concentrations were observed in October when ozone-mediated shifts favored shorter wavelengths of UVBR. We conclude that the DNA biodosimeter is an accurate indicator of biologically effective UVBR, even under highly variable ozone conditions.
| Item Type: | Publication - Article |
|---|---|
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1562/0031-8655(2002)076<0274:EODDTA>2.0.CO;2 |
| Programmes: | BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Life at the Edge - Stresses and Thresholds |
| ISSN: | 0031-8655 |
| NORA Subject Terms: | Biology and Microbiology Chemistry Atmospheric Sciences |
| Date made live: | 15 Nov 2011 11:48 +0 (UTC) |
| URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13386 |
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