title: Monitoring of human exposure to radiation with the binucleated lymphocyte micronucleus assay.
abstract: The micronuclei (MN) of peripheral blood lymphocytes from radiation-exposed people were monitored with the binucleated lymphocyte micronucleus assay (CBMN). MN rates in people with radiation-disease, radiation exposed and a control group were 12.57/1000, 4.20/1000 and 3.26/1000, respectively. The MN rate of patients with radiation-disease was significantly higher than those of other groups (P < 0.01). The difference between the radiation-exposed group and control group was not significant (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, chromosome aberrations (CA) of 3 groups were determined. The results were similar to those seen while the MN assay. CA rates were 2.06%, 0.93% and 0.69%, respectively. CA rate of the radiation-disease group was significantly higher than that of other groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The difference between the radiation-exposed group and the control group was not significant (P > 0.05). The study indicates that the CBMN assay is a rapid, sensitive and accurate method which can be used to monitor a large population exposed to radiation.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity