The effect of electron beam irradiation in air or arg on was studied on two hydrolysable aliphatic polyesters, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and chemically cross-linked poly(1,5-dioxepan-2-one) (PDXO-X). A secondary alkylether radical and a tertiary alkyl radical were identified by ESR in PCL and PDXO-X after irradiation in both air and argon. For the samples irradiated in air, peroxy radicals were detected in PCL but not in PDXO-X. For irradiated PCL, the intensities in the luminescence measurements seemed to be dose-dependent. Large amounts of oxidation products were found present in the PDXO-X irradiated in air and the luminescence intensities seemed to be dose-dependent.