The Use of Sulphur as a Protecting Agent against Ionizing Radiations

Abstract

SummaryMany sulphur-containing compounds are known to be effective radiation protectors in biological systems. Experiments have therefore been carried out to assess the degree of protection offered by sulphur in simple polymeric systems, either in aqueous solutions or liquids.Aqueous solutions (5 per cent) of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene-oxide were irradiated until gel formation occurred. Similar experiments were carried out with dimethylsiloxane polymer fluid. The dose to gel was found to be independent of dose-rate, but was greatly increased by the presence of extremely small amounts of colloidal sulphur (approximately 10−3–10−4 gram atoms per litre). The protective efficiency was sufficiently high to rule out combination with radicals as a reaction mechanism. Gas evolution was, however, unaffected in the silicones. No significant protection was observed in the presence of oxygen.