FISH examination of lymphocytes from Mayak workers for assessment of translocation induction rate under chronic radiation exposures.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the translocation-induction rate under chronic exposure conditions by measuring chromosome aberration frequencies in lymphocytes from Mayak nuclear workers using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).


METHODS
Lymphocytes were examined from 27 nuclear workers at the Mayak Production Association and two control individuals using FISH with probes for chromosomes 1, 2 and 4. Official doses derived from worker film-badge records varied from 0 to 8.50 Gy.


RESULTS
The mean (+/-SD) genome-equivalent translocation frequency (F(G)) was 2.30 (+/-0.75)% in the zero-dose group (n = 7), and Poisson regression analysis provided the best-fit equation of F(G)(%) = 2.96(+/-0.39) + 0.69(+/-0.14)D + 0.12(+/-0.05)A, where D is the film-badge-derived dose (Gy), and A is age centred at 67 years. The induction rate would increase to nearly 1% Gy(-1) if the radiation dose to bone marrow, one of the major organs for lymphocytes and where their precursor cells reside, is considered.


CONCLUSIONS
The estimated induction rate in vivo appeared substantially smaller than linear coefficients estimated from various in vitro studies.
Burak
L E
LE
Clinical Department, Branch N1, Institute of Biophysics, Ozyorsk's shosse 19, Ozyorsk, Chelyabinsk 456780, Russian Federation.
Kodama
Y
Y
Nakano
M
M
Ohtaki
K
K
Itoh
M
M
Okladnikova
N D
ND
Vasilenko
E K
EK
Cologne
J B
JB
Nakamura
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011210:Power Plants; D012426:Russia; D013997:Time Factors; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects*