Induced antioxidant activity in hospital staff occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation.
OBJECTIVE
Occupational exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation (IR) in radiology department staff may affect their antioxidant status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stress parameters in radiology staff that are occupationally exposed to IR in a hospital setting.


METHODS
The study population included 40 exposed radiology staff and 30 control subjects. The radiation doses of exposed staff ranged between 0.10 and 3.8 milligray (mGy) per month. The subjects' antioxidant status was determined by measuring the activities of copper zinc-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx), catalase (CAT) enzymes, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocytes.


RESULTS
Our results showed that the activities of erythrocyte CuZn-SOD and Se-GPx enzymes observed for the radiation exposed group were significantly higher than in the controls. The activity of CAT enzyme and MDA levels were significantly lower in the exposed group than in the controls. Moreover, we investigated the influence of confounding factors on antioxidant enzymes or lipid peroxidation (LP), but we could not find any associations between them.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates the presence of stimulant effect of chronic low-dose radiation in exposed individuals, resulting in enhanced resistance to oxidative stress.
Erciyes University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Kayseri, Turkey.
Ayşe
A
Eken
Ahmet
A
Aydin
Onur
O
Erdem
Cemal
C
Akay
Ahmet
A
Sayal
Ibrahim
I
Somuncu
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase