DNA UVB dosimeters.

DNA can be used to establish and monitor solar UVB dose. Since the principal molecular site of UVB damage in living organisms is DNA, it is logical to quantitate biologically effective solar UVB in DNA dosimeters. In addition to their particular sensitivity to UVB, DNA dosimeters have the advantage of a 2 pi geometry for collecting diffuse UVB radiation from all vectors, low cost, small size and portability, and no moving parts. Both molecular (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) and biological (bacteriophage plaques) dosimeters can be quantitated as endpoints to yield the total dose. DNA dosimeters integrate the absorbed energy of all UVB wavelengths (290-320 nm), are highly sensitive to the differential biological effectiveness of these wavelengths, and also integrate over time in hours, days or weeks of exposure. Our experiments have focused on the demonstration of DNA solar dosimeters in the ocean at various depths, the application of the dosimeters to the terrestrial monitoring of solar UVB under various conditions, and the development of a mini-dosimeter which uses nanograms of DNA and is assayed by polymerase chain reaction.