Abstract:
ObjectiveTo study health effects of long-term exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation among radiology workers.
MethodsCross-sectional survey and physical examination,including general health status,hemogram,lymphocyte micronucleus,chromosomal aberration,lens turbidity,and thyroid function,were conducted among 624 radiology workers in 6 class-three hospitals in Linyi city in 2013.
ResultsThe average annual dosage of occupational radiation was less than 5 mSv for 97.28% of the workers surveyed;the rate of lymphocyte micronucleus and chromosomal aberration were 57.85% and 53.21% among the workers.The hemogram changes were significantly influenced by the years,annual average and accumulated dose of radiation exposure(all
P<0.05)and significant differences were also observed in levels of thyroid hormones,the rates of lymphocyte micronucleus,chromosomal aberration,and lens turbidity among the radiology workers with different years and accumulated dose of occupational ionizing radiation(all
P<0.05).
ConclusionLong-term low-dose occupational radiation may cause certain radiation injures and radiation protection should be improved among radiology workers.