[Relative biological effectiveness of tritium oxide based on DNA destruction and thymus depletion in rats]

As estimated by DNA destruction and thymus depletion for 21 days of observation, relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of tritium oxide (RBE HTO), as compared to gamma-quanta (137Cs), was 3.1 +/- 0.2 and 3.1 +/- 0.3, respectively. On days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 RBE HTO, for the same indices at minimum radiation doses, was about 6-2. As determined by T1/2 period of double-stranded DNA diminution and thymus cell depletion RBE HTO was 5.5 +/- 0.4.