Micronucleus assay reveals no radiation effects among nuclear power plant workers.
The micronucleus assay was applied as biomarker for exposure effect and radiosensitivity in a group of 99 radiation workers of the Nuclear Power Plant Doel (Belgium). The difference in micronucleus frequency between the group of radiation workers with annual dose exceeding 2 mSv and a non-exposed control population was statistically not significant. With respect to the micronucleus frequency after an in vitro challenge dose of 2 Gy, which can be considered as biomarker for radiosensitivity, the data of present study can be represented by a normal distribution without a high frequency tail. This means that a subpopulation of workers with elevated radiosensitivity could not be identified in the population under study.
Department of Radiation Protection, University Ghent, Gent, Belgium. hubert.thierens@rug.ac.be
Hubert
H
Thierens
Anne
A
Vral
Marina
M
Barbé
Leo
L
De Ridder
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011210:Power Plants; D011836:Radiation Tolerance
D015415:Biomarkers