Increased DNA Damage of Radiology Personnel Chronically Exposed to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiations

Abstract

Objective: Occupational life has a direct relation with health. People working in the hospital units such as Radiology and Nuclear Medicine are subject to higher doses of ionizing radiation than ordinary person. We examined the association between DNA damage and ionizing radiation exposure in the personnel working in university hospital and considered different variables such as smoking, age etc. Material - Method: DNA Damage levels were estimated via comet assay in peripheral lymphocytes from 48 exposed and from 51 non-exposed subjects, aged between 18-57 years old. Tail DNA percentage parameter, obtained through Open Comet program, was chosen to assess DNA damage and the results were evaluated by the One - Way Anova statistical test. Results: The results, obtained from statistical comparison of tail DNA percentage parameter, indicate that even the low dose radiation caused DNA damage and age, gender, smoking habits and working years did not show any significant differences except for dosimetry value. Increasing dosimetry value resulted in increased DNA damage. Conclusion: This work supports the previous results of biomonitoring of radiology workers chronically exposed to ionizing radiation. This means ionizing radiation is still an important DNA damaging agent despite many improvements such as exposed time reduction, working conditions and technology.

Keywords

• Ionizing radiation,Comet assay,DNA damage,Radiology personnel

Increased DNA Damage of Radiology Personnel Chronically Exposed to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiations

Abstract

Amaç: Çalışma yaşamının sağlıkla doğrudan ilişkisi bulunmaktadır. Hastanelerin radyoloji veya nükleer tıp birimlerinde çalışanlar, sıradan insanlara göre daha yüksek dozlarda iyonize radyasyona maruz kalmaktadır. Çalışmamızda radyoloji personelinin DNA hasarı ile iyonize radyasyona maruziyetleri arasındaki ilişki incelenmiş ve sigara içme alışkanlığı ile yaş gibi farklı parametreler de hesaba katılmıştır. Materyal – Metot:  18 ila 57 yaş aralığında, 48 kişiden oluşan radyolojik birimlerde çalışan personel grubu ile 51 kişiden oluşan kontrol grubunun DNA hasar miktarları komet metodu ile tespit edilmiştir. Open Comet programı aracılığı ile elde edilen Kuyruk DNA yüzdesi parametresi DNA hasarını göstermesi için seçilmiş ve sonuçlar tek yönlü anova istatistik testi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Kuyruk DNA yüzdesi parametresinin istatistiksel olarak karşılaştırılması sonucunda elde edilen veriler düşük doz radyasyonun bile DNA hasarına sebep olduğunu ve dozimetre değerinin önemli bir değişken olduğunu göstermektedir. Dozimetre değeri arttıkça daha yüksek DNA hasarı tespit edilmiştir. Yaş, cinsiyet, sigara içme alışkanlığı ve çalışma yılı ise anlamlı bir farklılığa sebep olmamıştır. Sonuç: Sonuçlar, radyoloji personelini konu alan benzer çalışmalarda bildirilen biyo-izleme verileri ile paralellik göstermektedir. Bu durum, gelişen teknoloji ve çalışma koşullarının geliştirilmesi gibi önemli iyileştirmelere rağmen iyonize radyasyonun radyolojik birimlerde çalışan personel için halen önemli bir DNA hasar ajanı olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. 

Keywords

• DNA Hasarı,İyonize Radyasyon,Komet Metodu,Radyoloji Personeli

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