[DNA damage and repair in human lymphocytes under the activation of molecular oxygen].

It was shown that activation of molecular oxygen by Fe2+ in the presence of ascorbate is a caise of human lymphocyte DNA damage. The level of DNA damage caused by activation of oxygen is comparable with the effect of high doses of chemical mutagens. DNA damage is linked with action of activated oxygen but not with generation of lipid radicals. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) added to lymphocytes prevents partly the damaging action of activated oxygen on DNA.