Mutagenicity assessment of high ‐power 1.6‐THz pulse laser radiation

The present study aimed to assess the mutagenicity of 1.6 THz laser irradiation in the Ames test. The single bacterial colony of tester strains (TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and WP2uvrA) was irradiated with a 1.6 THz laser using a tabletop THz pulse laser system. The results showed that the THz laser irradiation did not increase the number of revertant colonies compared to that in the negative control group, whereas the positive control group treated with chemicals known as mutagens increased the number of revertant colonies. Thus, it is suggested that 1.6 THz laser irradiation is unlikely to be mutagenic. AbstractThe effect of terahertz (THz) radiation has been studied in medicine. However, there is a lack of scientific information regarding its possible mutagenicity. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the mutagenicity of 1.6 THz laser irradiation. The Ames test was conducted using five bacterial tester strains. The bacteria were subjected to (i) 1.6 THz laser irradiation at 3.8  mW/cm2 for 60  min using a tabletop THz pulse laser system, (ii) ultraviolet irradiation, (iii) treatment with positive control chemicals (positive control) or (iv) treatment with the solvent used in the positive control (negative control). After treatment, the bacterial suspensions were cultured on minimal glu cose agar to determine the number of revertant colonies. In addition, the comet assay was performed using fibroblasts (V79) to assess possible DNA damage caused by the THz laser...

Source: Photochemistry and Photobiology - July 22, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Midori Shirato, Yuma Takida, Taro Kanno, Hiroshi Matsuura, Yoshimi Niwano, Hiroaki Minamide, Keisuke Nakamura Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research