Work

A study of radiation workers: Dosimetry, chromosomal aberrations, and cancer risk

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cytogenetic analysis of blood lymphocytes can be used as a biomarker of absorbed radiation dose. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA) correlates with subsequent cancer incidence. Healthy medical employees in Hungary - 301 working in an ionizing radiation work area and 732 controls - were studied from 1997 to 2022. Frequencies of chromatid- and chromosome-type aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes were significantly higher in the ionizing radiation group. Smoking also affected the frequency of aberrations, which was highest among smokers in the radiation group. Staff working with ionizing radiation were divided into four groups: CT, radiation therapy, diagnostic X-ray, and nuclear medicine. Total aberrations and aberrant cells were significantly higher in the nuclear medicine group than in the CT group. Tumor cases were not more frequent among the ionizing radiation group than among the control group. • Chromosomal aberrations were higher in the group applying ionizing radiation than in the controls. • Aberrant cells were higher in the nuclear medicine group than in the CT machine group. • More cancer cases occurred among smokers than among non-smokers. • There was no difference in the proportion of tumor cases or in tumor types between the radiation workers and the controls.

Source: Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis

DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2025.503869