Enhanced Frequency of Chromosomal Aberrations in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiations

The yield of chromosomal aberrations was analyzed in peripheral blood cultures to estimate the level of radiation exposure in workers from a radioprotection department. The subjects were exposed at low level dose rate (external exposure) to alfa, beta and gamma rays for time periods ranging between 7 and 34 years. We found a higher frequency of dicentrics and acentrics than in the control group. The absorbed dose cumulated during the total period of employment in radiation field (calculated by extrapolating in vitro dose-response curve for dicentrics), ranged between 113.7 and 281 mGy. The average annual dose rate (assessed between 3.8-16.2 mGy/y) was bellow the permissible limit of 50 mGy/year for the whole body. There was no clear trend between the enhanced number of dicentrics and the age or exposure period of the subjects.