Title: Effect of ¹³⁷Cs gamma radiation on the system bioindicator Tradescantia pallida

Authors: Teresa C. Leal, Alphonse Kelecom

Addresses: Laboratory of Radiobiology and Radiometry (LARARA), Department of General Biology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Brazil. ' Laboratory of Radiobiology and Radiometry (LARARA), Department of General Biology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Brazil

Abstract: The use of the bioindicator Tradescantia clone 4430 as a biomonitor is limited to a short period of time in regions of hot climate. This paper describes the use of Tradescantia pallida as a bioindicator, to verify its sensitivity to gamma radiation from a ¹³⁷Cs source and to monitor places of low doses of ionising radiation in tropical climates. Specimens of the T. pallida were exposed to radiation for a period of 24, 36 or 48 h. The results show that the biological system offers a good alternative for biomonitoring of gamma radiation at low doses and is an excellent mechanism for fast and simple acquisition of data, and thus is capable of anticipating abnormalities produced by genotoxic agents, favouring its use in monitoring in nuclear installations.

Keywords: Tradescantia pallida; gamma radiation; low dose; environmental pollution; biomonitoring; low radiation; bioindicators; ionising radiation; tropical climates; genotoxic agents; nuclear installations; nuclear safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2010.032819

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2010 Vol.7 No.2, pp.157 - 166

Published online: 24 Apr 2010 *

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