Abstract

BAQUERO PULIDO, Hernando; GUEVARA PARDO, Gonzalo; GIRALDO SUAREZ, Marcela  and  OSORIO SOTO, Luz Marina. Chromosomal aberrations in workers exposed to ionizing radiation. Rev. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2004, vol.2, n.1, pp.08-14. ISSN 1692-7273.

In the prevention of cancer every action is important in order to decrease the number of cases. The objective of this investigation is to prove the existence of chromosomal abnormalities in the health workers occupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation and to explore the possibility of using this test in the epidemiological\ surveillance system. Methodology: Lymphocytes cultures of peripheric blood are colored with quinacrine and reading of metaphases is done for each case. Average of dosage measures are taken from one to four years and the results are compared with the dosage administered and the exposure time, as well as with common carcinogenic, and personal and familial history. Results: An average of 1.93 abnormalities per individual was found. Regarding time of exposure and presence of abnormalities, we found: 39% between 1 and 10 years of exposure, 27% between 11 and 20 years and 46% between 21 and 30 years of exposure. No relation was found between doses and presence of abnormalities, since they randomly represented the administered doses. Conclusions: The findings suggest that exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation, which are internationally accepted, may cause chromosomal damage, and this is directly related to time of exposure and individual sensibility, but not with the amount of radiation received. Exposed workers must have follow up additional to dosage measure.

Keywords : ionizing radiation; occupational exposure; chromosomal abnormalities.

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