The radiosensitivity of embryos of domestic chickens and black-headed gulls.

Eggs of domestic chickens and black-headed gulls were continuously exposed to gamma-rays during incubation, using dose rates ranging from 0.004 to 0.08 Gy h-1 for 20 days. Acute-dose experiments were also conducted, and eggs were irradiated on day 10 of incubation with doses of between 1.92 and 28.8 Gy. Hatchability and numbers reaching full-term developed were affected only after chronic doses of 9.6 Gy and acute doses of 4.8 Gy or higher. Maximum embryo mortality occurred around days 10-11 of incubation and just before hatching, in all experiments. An increase in foot and limb deformities was observed above acute and chronic doses of 9.6 Gy.