Chromosome aberrations in nuclear power plant workers: the influence of dose accumulation and lymphocyte life-time.
Chromosome analyses were performed in blood lymphocytes of 22 nuclear power plant workers with a mean accumulated radiation dose of 390 mSv (270-530 mSv). Nineteen workers had received 300 mSv 4-16 years prior to sampling. The frequency of dicentrics and ring chromosomes (1.75 x 10(-3)) was significantly elevated as compared to a control group (0.58 x 10(-3)). Based on the initial slope of an in vitro 60Co gamma-ray curve, a biological dose estimate of only 110 mSv was derived. This can be interpreted in terms of an "equivalent-acute" dose at the time of blood sampling which can be derived by weighting annual doses during working periods of 12-30 years for a mean life-time m of lymphocytes. The annual doses were additionally weighted for a uniform distribution during a whole year. Using m = 10 years, a mean "equivalent-acute" dose of 90 mSv (64-157 mSv) is obtained, which compares more closely to the biologically estimated dose than 20 mSv (7-71 mSv) based on m = 4.3 years.
Braselmann
H
H
Institut für Strahlenbiologie, GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit Neuherberg, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
Schmid
E
E
Bauchinger
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011829:Radiation Dosage
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes