Chromosomal Aberrations, Micronuclei, Blood Parameters and Received Doses in Workers Exposed to Ionizing Radiation

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the impact of low doses of ionizing radiation on healthcare workers using dosimeter data and several biomarkers of effects and to assess the suitability of those tests. METHODS: Data from the last medical examinations, obtained from the medical records of 148 healthcare workers, were analyzed. They were divided into three groups of workers: nuclear medicine (NM), interventional radiology (IR), and general radiology (GR). The examination included hematological parameters and cytogenetic tests: unstable chromosomal aberrations (UCAs) and micronucleus test (MNT). The received cumulative 5-year dose was calibrated into personal dose equivalents Hp (10)(PDE). RESULTS: There were older employees and more women in NM than in the other two groups. NM workers had more years of exposition than employees in IR and GR. PDE and years of exposition were significantly higher in NM. In the multivariate logistic regression model NM group was positively related to UCAs after adjusting for age, sex, and smoking. According to the results of the multivariate analysis, female healthcare workers and those employed at IR had higher values of erythrocytes than males and those employed in NM or GR departments. CONCLUSIONS: Nuclear medicine workers are at a higher risk of developing neoplastic due to consistent exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. The results indicate that the UCAs test might be more suitable for detecting radiation-induced damage at low doses than MNT. Compulsory monitoring of the health status at periodic examinations is required to prevent occupational diseases of nuclear medicine workers.