Effect of static magnetic field on the induction of chromosome aberrations by 4.9 MeV protons and 23 MeV alpha particles.

The effect of static magnetic field applied during in vitro exposure to 4.9 MeV protons and 23 MeV alpha particles on the induction of chromosome aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes was studied. The mean frequency of dicentrics in cells irradiated in magnetic field of a magnitude about one Tesla tended to be higher than that irradiated in the absence of magnetic field for both protons and alpha particles, and the analysis of dose-effect relationships indicated that for protons the magnetic field significantly affected the dose-effect relationship. The intercellular distribution of chromosome aberrations, one of the measures of radiation quality, was not significantly influenced by the magnetic field.