[Risk of leukemia among medical X-ray workers in China between 1950 and 1995].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between low dose radiation and leukemia and assess resultant risk of leukemia.


METHODS
The leukemia incidences (1950 - 1995) in 27,011 medical diagnostic X-ray workers and in 25 782 non-radiation workers in hospital employed between 1950 and 1980 in China were compared by O/E system.


RESULTS
The relative risk (RR) of leukemia in the medical X-ray workers was 2.17 (95% CI = 1.58 - 2.91, P < 0.01). The highest RR of leukemia was found in those who engaged in X-ray work before 1960 or at age under 20 years.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a relationship between incidence of leukemia and X-ray radiation in X-ray workers and accumulation of radiation dosage and employment at younger age increased the risk of leukemia.
Wang
J
J
Institute of Radiation Medicine, CAMS and PUMC, Tianjin 300192, China.
Li
B
B
Zhao
Y
Y
Zhang
J
J
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007953:Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014965:X-Rays