Frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes from subjects occupationally exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effect of low dose of occupational radiation exposure in Nuclear Medicine Department employees, by using cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The study included 46 exposed individuals together with 27 from the same area without occupational exposure to radiation which served as controls. The results obtained were evaluated with respect to age, gender, smoking habits, pathological condition and the occupational exposure to radiation of the individuals. The frequency of micronuclei increased significantly with the age of the subjects (P = 0.007). However there were no significant differences in micronucleus frequency with gender, smoking habits and occupational exposure. The frequency of micronuclei was significantly higher in individuals with presence of pathological condition (P < 0.0001) in comparison to healthy population irrespective of their exposure status.
Isotope Group (BARC), Laboratory Nuclear Medicine Section, c/o Tata Memorial Centre Annexe, Parel, Mumbai 400012, India. umapat@yahoo.com
Lebana J
LJ
Joseph
Uma N
UN
Patwardhan
Aban M
AM
Samuel
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012907:Smoking