Vascular effects of occupational exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation.
Damage to the microcirculation caused by high-dose ionizing radiation is well known but data concerning low-dose exposure are scant and contrasting. We employed capillary microscopy to study dermal microcirculation damage resulting from occupational exposure to ionizing radiation doses lower than 5 rem/year (maximum permissible dose in Italy). We studied 145 physicians (60.7% radiologists, 33.8% orthopedic specialists, 5.5% cardiologists) occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation and a control group of 106 subjects in comparable but different occupations not exposed to ionizing radiation or to other skin hazards. All subjects were administered a clinical protocol and underwent capillary microscopy of the fingernail-fold. Capillary microscopy alterations were classified as absent, mild, moderate, marked and severe. Our data confirm that occupational exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation can lead to morphological and functional alterations of the dermal microcirculation, which can be identified early by capillary microscopy.
Tomei
F
F
Occupational Medicine Department, University La Sapienza Rome, Italy.
Papaleo
B
B
Fantini
S
S
Iavicoli
S
S
Baccolo
T P
TP
Rosati
M V
MV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000528:radiation effects; D002309:Cardiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000528:radiation effects; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009985:Orthopedics; D010820:Physicians; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011871:Radiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*