Glasses have been prepared by adding 0.1% of the oxides of any of 3d-transition metals (Ti -> Cu) to a base binary high lead silicate glass PbO 60%center dot SiO2 40% (wt). UV-visible spectra of the undoped base glass and transition metals (TM)-doped glasses have been measured before and after successive gamma irradiation. The spectral measurements of the undoped and TM-doped show the appearance of strong UV bands which are attributed to the trace iron impurities and that due to lead Pb2+ ions. With TM samples this strong absorption interferes with the absorption bands due to some TM ions. Successive gamma irradiation produces specific induced defects characteristic to the host base glass or to the transition metal added. The intensity and growth behaviour of the radiation-induced bands are seen to depend on the type of the 3d-transition metal. The host lead silicate glass reveals some shielding effect towards the successive gamma irradiation. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.