title: Trace metal levels of X-ray technicians' blood and hair.
abstract: Medical X-ray technicians are exposed to low-level ionizing radiation in their occupational field. There are very few data on low-dose radiation effects. The present study was designed to estimate few vital trace metals (Zn, Cu, Fe) in indicator tissues (blood and hair) of X-ray technicians and non-X-ray technicians (hospital employees were used as controls) by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). This analysis noted a significant increase in Zn, Cu, and Fe concentrations in X-ray technicians' hair. But in blood, Zn and Cu were depleted, whereas Fe was increased. Such changes in trace metal concentrations among X-ray technicians were noted where occupational exposure to radiation was for longer than three years. Through composite risk analysis, by using Zn:Fe as an indicator, it was noted that blood gave a stronger indication than hair in analyzing and estimating risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Burdwan Medical College, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Basu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013679:Technology, Radiologic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc