Biological Studies of Materials Arising from Energy Operations
Free Radical Studies on Mechanisms of Action
14.
Scope:
RX-03-06- (a)
of Pollutants
Project Title:
(Cont'd.)
Nicrices, which can be formed from nitrates by soil bacteria, may be
converted by stomach acids to nitrosamines, some of which can be highly
mutagenic,
In addition,
EPR signals of presently unknown significance
have been found in tissues and cells exposed to relatively high levels of
nitrite and/or nitrate in their water supplies,
Although once again this
suggests the possibility of an EPR assay of "“effective'' biological exposure,
it may also have functional consequences in terms of cancer induction by
other chemicals,
For example, high levels of dietary nitrace enhance EPR
signal amplitude but decrease tumor incidence (i.e,, a protective effect)
when given to animals exposed to various carcinogens,
Clearly these
preliminary findings should be followed up, and the EPR capabilities at
BNL are well suited to this work,
oN
‘
15.
Relationship to Other Projects:
NMR studies are planned in the Biology Department,
Radiation
techniques to provide kinetic information and further identification of
reaction intermediates are in progress in the Chemistry Department (pulse
radiolysis) and in the Physics Department (on-line EPR at the Dynamitron
electron accelerator),
16.
Technical Progress in FY 1973:
Project not yet initiated,
17.
Expected Results in FY 1974:
Project to be initiated in FY 1975,
18.
Expected Results
in FY 1975:
Present programs may be extended to include consideration of non-
nuclear pollutants with minimum additional support.
Optimum implementation
of the research activities noted would require an estimated addition of
two scientific staff members and two technicians (plus one scientist and
one technician associated with the radiation /EPR collaborative project).
Stagged-flow and temperature-jump analyses of free radical reactions would
e another technician,
e reaction of several classes of known carcinogens (aminonitro-
quinolines,
benzanthracene-benzpyrene, nitrosamines)
with DNA constituents
(bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, oligonucleotides) will be examined by
EPR to determine whether or not combination occurs in. the same way that
radiation-produced free radicals combine,
(See Continuation Sheet)
1419326
RX- 383