The Role of Ozone in Radiation Avoidance in the Mouse

Abstract

Various ozone concentrations were established in one-half of an annular test cage in which a mouse could move freely. Ozone elicited the reaction of avoidance and confusion seen in previous experiments with X-rays. With ozone these reactions occurred only at concentrations many times that associated with effective X-ray beams. No change in the radiation avoidance reaction was observed when the oxygen tension was raised to 95% although the associated ozone concentration was then below the level of detection. It seems doubtful that ozone is the effective agent in the reaction to radiation.