title: The effect occupational exposure to ionizing radiation on the DNA damage in peripheral blood leukocytes of nuclear medicine personnel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was estimation of DNA strand breaks in leukocytes of peripheral blood of staff in a nuclear medicine department.
  
  
  METHODS
  The exposed group consisted of 46 volunteers and the control group consisted of 40 volunteers. Samples consisting of 1 ml whole blood were collected by venepuncture. DNA damage in leukocytes was detected by alkaline comet assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no correlation between the effective dose measured by individual dosimeters and DNA damage and no differences between sexes. The mean level of damage to DNA in people exposed to ionizing radiation was significantly elevated compared with control individuals. The highest value for mean comet tail moment was noted in leukocytes of PET/CT and scintigraphy technicians (1.28 vs. 0.30 for control, p=0.013). The levels of DNA damage in leukocytes of workers in category B (effective dose may exceed 1 mSv/year) were significantly enhanced. The DNA migration of leukocytes in exposed smokers and nonsmokers was similar. In the control group the damage to DNA of leukocytes in smokers was markedly but not significantly higher compared with nonsmokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation leads to enhanced levels of reversible DNA damage in leukocytes of nuclear medicine employees. The level of DNA damage depends on the kind of work. Cigarette smoking is related to the increase in DNA damage in unexposed individuals but not in nuclear medicine workers. Radiation seems to be a stronger inducer of DNA damage than smoking. Although most of the DNA damage detected by comet assay is repaired, further improvement of radiation safety should be taken under consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Hygiene and Radiobiology, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene.
authors.forename: Małgorzata M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dobrzyńska
authors.forename: Krzysztof A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pachocki
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajowik
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radzikowska
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sackiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*