"One of the dangers of ionizing radiations is generation of free radicals."

This is the comment of biochemist Eugenio Luigi Iorio, President of the International Observatory of Oxidative Stress, during the television program "Cose dell’altro Geo" yesterday. He assessed in real time, using Geiger counter, the level of radioactivity of a sample of food  (plant and animal origin).

During the interview prof. Iorio said that "ionizing radiations, such as those emitted by radioactive substances  from Japanese nuclear plant in Fukushima are capable of breaking chemical bonds of any molecule, causing atoms and atomic groups characterized by having an unpaired electron and, therefore, of free radicals. The free radicals, in presence of oxygen, giving rise to the by-products called hydroperoxides, considered markers and potential amplifiers of the insult from oxidative stress. "

Through d-ROMs Test it is possible assess the level of circulating hydroperoxides, allowing the physician to highlight one of the most direct effects of ionizing radiations and take into account the need to take antioxidants in a targeted and personalized order to counteract the oxidative insult.
Prof. Iorio said  that “just a group of Japanese researchers has recently shown, through the d-ROMs Test, developed by Italian chemist Carratelli, that taking vitamin C can protect from oxidative insult of rats previously exposed to high doses of ionizing radiation. "

We hope, therefore, that this can be useful in the struggle to find strategies to combat the serious health effects of nuclear accidents.