Proceedings of the Symposium on Low level Electromagnetic
Phenomena in Biological Systems, 3 & 4 February 1999, School of
POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS BY
UV-RADIATION NEWLY DETECTED FROM INTERNALLY ADMINISTERED
RADIOISOTOPES
M. A . Padmanabha
Rao
114 Charak Sadan, Vikaspuri,
Notably from radioisotopes as well as
characteristic X-ray sources the author reported to have discovered
light emission predominant in ultraviolet (UV) radiation1-4. Since it is not known earlier that UV
radiation associates with ionising radiations in causing biological effects when
radioisotopes such as 99mTc, 131I, 201Tl are internally administered into the
body, the biological effects and conventional dose estimates to the bodily
organs deserve a thorough review.
INTRODUCTION
Henry Becquerel discovered radioactivity
in 1896 from the naturally occurring phosphorescent potassium uranyl
sulphate.5. Similarly radium (present as chloride)
discovered from the uranium ore, pitchblende by Pierre and Marie Curie in 1898
has also been a radioactive and feeble self-luminescent
material6. Then came the artificially produced
radioisotopes discovered on alpha irradiation by Irene Curie and Fredric Joliot
in 1933 followed by neutron irradiated and cyclotron produced radioisotopes. But
their emission of any phosphorescence or fluorescence was neither reported nor
predicated by earlier researchers. In these circumstances, from all the
radioisotopes investigated the author discovered incredibly very
poor fluorescent light emission, which is neither visible to the naked eye nor
can be explained by any known phenomenon1-4.
Radioisotope and X-ray sources are
examples of an immensely important family of ionising radiation sources, yet a
big distinction persists between the two. However light emission has also been
discovered from X-ray sources, say along with Cu, Rb, Mo, Ag, Ba, or Tb X-rays
from Cu (metal), rubidium sulphate, Mo (metal), Ag (metal), barium oxide, or
terbium peroxide respectively on gamma excitation from
241Am [AMC 2084, Amersham International,
UK.]. Earlier to this, no literature is available on light emission either from
an X-ray tube or characteristic source ever since the discoveries of X-rays
(bremsstrahlung) from Crook’s tube by W.C. Roentgen and characteristic X-rays of
elements by Charles Glover Barkla. The light observed as a common emission from
both X-ray and radioisotope sources led to a fundamental finding that light
photons follow X-, gamma rays, and beta particles from one and the same excited
atom that can have a great significance in atomic and nuclear sciences. For
example, within 131I atom its beta, gamma, and Xe X-ray emissions independently
produce room-temperature fluorescent light photons. Also has been found, from
all the radioisotopes tested, a complete range of optical spectrum including
ultraviolet (UV), visible (
Most interestingly, from
131I and 137Cs the light protons were found
exceeding gamma ray photons when counted by a high gain
photo multiplier tube (9635QB, THORN EMI) and a scintillation detector
respectively. In clear words, they have been found as good light and UV emitters
over other radioisotopes tested. 131I accumulates mainly in the thyroid
gland, but does even in total body, gastrointestinal tract and lungs due to
diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or accidental
exposure7-9. Most importantly, the new insight on
UV radiation emission challenges the radiation dose estimates which relied only
on beta particles, gamma, and Xe X-ray and conversion electron
emissions10-13. Unfortunately, the current wisdom on
biological effects of UV radiation is limited to external exposure, for example,
proteins inducing free radicals, gene activation, haemolysis, skin cancers, and
effect in intact eye lens14. It is the hope that the new insight
would prompt the readers to investigate whether UV radiation is responsible in
causing any biological damage to the cells unknown so far when associated with
ionising radiations. The author speculates that the cells and bodily organs
would also be exposed to different energies by a new atomic phenomenon termed
Rao (Padmanabha Rao) effect1-4. The author postulated that when
ionizing radiation passes through charged space around a core electron causes
low energy electromagnetic radiation with energy higher than that of UV
radiation in eV level termed ‘Bharat radiation’. Also postulated that it in turn
excites valence electron and causes fluorescent light
emission4.
To sum up, ionizing radiation, Bharat
radiation and fluorescent light follow one after another from one and the same
radioactive atom. Currently no detector is available to detect the Bharat
radiation. Since the intensity of light from any radioisotope depends upon the
type and energy of ionizing radiations, cellular exposures to optical radiation
differ from one radioisotope to the other for the same activity level. Anyhow,
the purpose of this paper is to prompt the readers to probe further on the
biological effects, if any caused by the Bharat radiation
emission.
EXPERIMENTAL
In the current study, a PMT coupled to a ‘preamplifier
served uniquely as a sensor not only to the light but also beta particles15, X-rays and gamma rays, on connecting through a linear amplifier to an 8K
MCA. The PMT was housed in a metal casing with a lid. And prior to the opening
of the lid for replacing a source with another, terminated high voltage supply
to the PMT. Also the experiment was conducted in dark room to prevent the PMT
from possible light leak, if any. For each photon or particle detected the PMT
sends a single photocathode pulse. Eventually the MCA displays pulse height
spectrum devoid of any peaks for the radiation intensity that the PMT detected.
Therefore, integral counts were noted for 4 min. and shown in Table 1 in terms
of counts sec-1 (cps). Gain of the linear amplifier had to be set higher
than what is usually required for a Gamma or Beta Spectrometer, and the time constant at 0.1
m sec. Radioisotopes were procured from the Board of
Radiation and Isotope Technology, Mumbai. Thin Mylar film fixed in front of the
radioisotopes had to be removed to permit light
transmission.
Use of a pair of sheet polarizers of the
type described by Robertson16 not only confirmed the said light
emission also facilitated in estimating the contributions of UV,
Fig.1. In a beam of visible (VIS) light,
they transmitted a low percent of incident light, which has been plane polarised
light in the visible range from 400-710 nm, and near infrared (NIR) radiation
which began to increase rapidly from nearly 710 nm onwards. On rotating one of
the sheets to 90° (crossed pair), the amount of light
transmitted in the near infrared region has been just about the same as when the
two plates were parallel while the second sheet behind eliminated the polarised
visible light transmitted by the first sheet.
A NEW METHOD FOR MEASUREMENT OF
LIGHT
The following method developed by the author served
commonly for all the sources. 137Cs (137mBa) exemplifies a source with three types of ionizing
radiations (IRs) namely beta particles, gamma rays, as well as Ba X-rays. Step (a): On keeping the
source directly over quartz window of the PMT, 9098 ± 6.2 cps have been observed. These counts were attributed
due to light as well as IRS that were detected. Step (b): A pair of sheet
polarizers in parallel position were interposed between the source and the PMT.
Fig.1 shows that these sheets do not allow transmission of UV radiation to PMT, but allow visible
(
Fig.2. A schematic diagram of the experimental set up
used for confirmation of light emission and measurement of ultraviolet [UV],
visible [VIS] and near infrared [NIR] radiations observed along with ionizing
radiations (IRs) from 137Cs. Photo multiplier tube served as sensor to both light
and IRs.
Similarly from the rest of the sources
listed in Table 1 including the internally administered radioisotopes like
99mTc, 131I and 201Tl, the contribution of UV radiation
ranks very high, while low for the visible and very low for the near infrared
radiations. Accurate methods can follow on estimation of UV intensities for the
same activity level from the desired internally administered
radioisotopes.
To conclude that this new insight study
may prompt the readers to review the biological effects and radiation dose
estimates in internal dosimetry.
Table1. Intensities of ultraviolet (UV), visible
(VIS), and near infrared (NIR) radiations and light (UV+VIS+NIR radiations)
measured from each radioisotope source in terms of counts per sec (cps), using
photo multiplier tube (9635QB, THORN EMI) as sensor .201TI, 131I, and 99mTc are important internally administrated
radioisotopes.
Source |
Emissions |
Net counts (cps) |
Light (UV+ (cps) |
Ultraviolet (UV) (cps) |
Visible ( (cps) |
Near infrared
(NIR)
(cps) | |
Radioisotopes: | |||||||
55Fe |
Mn X-rays |
133 ± 1 |
125 ± 1 |
|
|
| |
133Ba |
Cs X, γ |
3,239 ± 4 |
2,803± 4 |
2,733 ± 8 |
41 ± 2 |
29 ± 2 | |
152Eu |
Gd X, Sm X,β, γ |
4,072 ± 4 |
3,052± 6 |
2,757 ± 13 |
180 ± 3 |
115 ± 3 | |
201TI |
Hg X,γ |
1,860 ± 3 |
1,830 ± 3 |
1,752 ± 4 |
70 ± 1 |
8 ± 0.4 | |
147Pm |
β,γ |
3,623 ± 4 |
3,606 ± 4 |
3,583 ± 5 |
21 ± 1 |
2 ± 0.4 | |
45Ca |
β, γ |
2,338 ± 3 |
2,333 ± 3 |
2,234 ± 4 |
98 ± 1 |
1 ± 0.4 | |
141Ce |
Pr X,β, γ |
755 ± 1 |
727 ± 1 |
718 ± 1 |
8 ± 0.3 |
1 ± 0.2 | |
137Cs |
Ba X,β, γ |
9,098 ± 6 |
8,579 ± 7 |
8305 ± 5 |
73 ± 3 |
201 ± 2 | |
131I |
Xe X,β, γ |
241,948 ± 4 |
234,079 ± 5 |
226,209 ± 2 |
7,553 ± 4 |
317 ± 2 | |
204TI |
Hg X,β |
109,958 ± 21 |
84,984 ± 24 |
82,097 ± 29 |
2,517 ± 4 |
370 ± 2 | |
86Rb |
β, γ |
77,606 ± 18 |
38,677 ± 22 |
28,453 ± 52 |
3,798 ± 16 |
6,426 ± 13 | |
90Sr +90Y |
β, γ |
55,504 ± 15 |
29,563 ± 18 |
24,643 ± 44 |
2,372 ± 14 |
2,548 ± 11 | |
241Am |
Np Lx, γ, alpha |
1,696 ± 3 |
1,678 ± 2 |
1,645 ± 3 |
32 ± 0.6 |
1.1 ± 0.5 | |
57Co* |
Fe X, γ |
7,773 ± 6 |
5,600 ± 7 |
4,464 ± 16 |
749 ± 5 |
387 ± 5 | |
57Co |
Fe X, γ |
690 ± 2 |
626 ± 2 |
601 ± 4 |
11 ± 1.0 |
14 ± 0.8 | |
99mTc |
Tc X, γ |
487 ± 3 |
468 ± 5 |
440 ± 7 |
18 ± 0.5 |
10 ± 2.2 | |
113Sn |
In X, γ |
106,491 ± 21 |
91,105 ± 23 |
88,325 ± 33 |
2,012 ± 6 |
768 ± 4 | |
22Na |
β+, NeX, γ |
2,550 ± 3 |
2,284 ± 4 |
2,168 ± 8 |
57 ± 3 |
59 ± 2 | |
110mAg |
β, γ |
117,028 ± 20 |
48,393 ± 28 |
42,618 ± 76 |
2,110 ± 27 |
3,665 ± 22 | |
59Fe |
β, γ |
47,200 ± 14 |
39,985 ±16 |
38,376 ± 38 |
609 ± 12 |
1000 ± 10 | |
60Co |
β, γ |
2,971 ± 4 |
2,207 ± 3 |
2,052 ± 9 |
51 ± 3 |
104 ± 2 | |
60Co* |
β, γ |
151,735 ± 25 |
30,123 ± 34 |
|
|
| |
Characteristic X-ray sources in
AMC 2084: | |||||||
Cu metal |
Cu X-rays |
80 ± 1 |
22 ± 1 |
|
|
| |
Rb salt |
Rb X-rays |
125,381 ± 23 |
125,321± 23 |
124.845 ± 27 |
463 ± 3 |
13 ± 1 | |
Mo metal |
Mo X-rays |
95 ± 1 |
27 ± 1 |
|
|
| |
Ag metal |
Ag X-rays |
111 ± 1 |
30± 1 |
|
|
| |
Ba salt |
Ba X-rays |
2,167 ± 3 |
2,064 ± 7 |
1,974 ± 13 |
79 ± 3 |
11 ± 3 | |
Tb salt |
Tb X-rays |
154 ± 1 |
37 ± 1 |
|
|
| |
The counts given here are corrected for
background level (13 cps) of the photo multiplier. Cu, Rb, Mo, Ag, Ba, and Tb
targets (AMC 2084) are Cu, Rb, Mo, Ba and Tb XRF sources. Cu, Mo and Ag targets;
57Co* and 60Co* showed light emission notably at
room temperature though in metal form.
Acknowledgement
The author gratefully acknowledges the kind assistance of
Dinesh Bohra and Arvind Parihar for conducting experiments initially concerning
this work. The experimental work was done at the Defence Laboratory,
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(Cited this paper in the Report of the Seventh meeting of the
Ozone Research Managers of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the
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Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) together with the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), REPORT No. 51,
WMO/TD-No. 1437, p. 178 http://ozone.unep.org/Meeting_Documents/research-mgrs/7orm/7orm-report.pdf