title: Peripheral blood lymphocyte micronucleus frequencies in men from areas of Kerala, India, with high vs normal levels of natural background ionizing radiation.
abstract: We have measured the frequencies of micronuclei (MN) in adult male individuals living in areas of the Kerala coast, southwest India, with either high (HLNRA, >1.5mGy/year) or normal levels of natural ionizing radiation (NLNRA, ≤1.5mGy/year). Blood samples were obtained from 141 individuals, 94 from HLNRA and 47 from NLNRA, aged 18-72, and were subjected to the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. An average of 1835 binucleated (BN) cells per individual were scored. The overall frequency of MN (mean±SD) was 11.7±6.7 per 1000 BN cells. The frequencies of MN in the HLNRA (11.7±6.6) and NLNRA (11.6±6.7) were not statistically significantly different (P=0.59). However, a statistically significant (P<0.001) age-dependent increase in MN frequency was observed among individuals from both HLNRA and NLNRA. No natural background radiation dose-dependent increase in MN frequency was seen. MN frequency was not influenced by tobacco smoking or chewing but it was increased among individuals consuming alcohol. Chronic low-dose radiation in the Kerala coast did not have a significant effect on MN frequency among adult men.
authors.affiliation: Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam 691 001, Kerala, India. Electronic address: karuppasamy.vetrivel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Karuppasamy
authors.affiliation: Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam 691 001, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.affiliation: Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam 691 001, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: V Anil
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam 691 001, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: P R Vivek
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam 691 001, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: P K M
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Koya
authors.affiliation: Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam 691 001, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jaikrishan
authors.affiliation: Low Level Radiation Research Laboratory, Low Level Radiation Research Section (LLRRS), Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division (RB&HSD), Bio-Science Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Beach Road, Kollam 691 001, Kerala, India; LLRRS, RB&HSD, BARC, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India. Electronic address: biraj@barc.gov.in.
authors.forename: Birajalaxmi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay; Human peripheral blood; Natural background radiation