The effect of Co60&ggr;‐irradiation on the direct current conductivity &sgr; of polyethylene has been determined up to an intensityIof 4000 roentgens per hour at room temperature. The equation&sgr;/&sgr;00=1+(I/I0)34describes the data where &sgr;00is the conductivity without radiation and is the order of 10−18(ohm cm)−1andI0is 20 roentgen/hr. Measurements at liquid nitrogen temperatures give a factor of 20 decrease in the normal conductivity and a factor of 25 decrease in the radiation induced conductivity below their respective room temperature values.The temperature data serves to suggest an ionic mechanism for electrical conduction in polyethylene as opposed to an electronic mechanism. In fact, the ion contributing most to the conduction in the polyethylene may well be the proton.