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How can X-ray exposure damage cells and DNA?
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X-ray
The relationship of X-rays to other electromagnetic radiation within the electromagnetic spectrum.
X-ray exposure damages cells and DNA primarily through ionizing radiation, which imparts energy to atoms and molecules as it traverses living tissue. This process causes damage through two main pathways:12
- Direct Action: Radiation tracks may strike critical targets, such as DNA or chromosomes, directly causing structural breaks.23
- Indirect Action: X-rays can eject electrons from atoms, creating reactive free radicals and ions. These highly reactive species can diffuse through the cell and chemically attack biologically important molecules, including DNA.24
When these interactions occur, they can result in single- or double-strand DNA breaks, gene mutations, or chromosomal aberrations. While cells possess sophisticated DNA repair mechanisms to fix most lesions, unrepaired or misrepaired damage can lead to permanent mutations, neoplastic transformation (cancer induction), or cell death. Cells are particularly vulnerable during cell division, as radiation-induced damage to genes or chromosomes often prevents successful replication, leading to the death of the cell.135