Modification of Combined Effect of Radiation and Sodium Chloride on Microorganisms by Chemical Agents during Irradiation

Abstract

Effects of various chemical agents on the synergistic action of NaCl to the radiation inactivation of bacteria and yeast were studied. The remarkable modification of the radiation lethal effect by some reagents is considered to be a strong evidence for an indirect nature of NaCl synergistic action during irradiation. Most of these modification effects were restricted to the actions during irradiation, supporting the free radical hypothesis in which the short-life active species formed by radiation were considered to attack bacterial cells. Furthermore, preirradiation effects under various conditions suggest that the enhancement of radiation lethal effect by NaCl may involve the intracellular events.