Abstract
Cytogenetic studies were performed in peripheral blood lymphocytes from hospital workers occupationally exposed to low doses of radiation (0.30 - 40.07mSv). The workers were divided into three groups according to their job area : 18 diagnostic radiology, 17 therapeutic radiology, and 16 nuclear medicine. The control group consisted of 49 non-radiation workers with no history of exposure to radiation. A higher percentage of cells with aberration(1.275%) was observed in the workers compared to the controls(0.677%) and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.001). The frequency of chromosomal aberration was $0.706{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the exposed and $0.344{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the control(p<0.05). Chromosomal exchange frequency was $0.083{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the control vs $0.245{\times}10^{-2}$/cell in the workers. There was no evidence of significant increase of chromosome aberration related to age or to the duration of employment. The frequency of chromosomal exchange in workers of nuclear medicine was $0.313{\times}10^{-2}$/cell, which was significantly higher than in the control($0.083{\times}10^{-2}$/cell) or other working groups: therapeutic radiology($0.265{\times}10^{-2}$/cell), and diagnostic radiology($0.167{\times}10^{-2}$/cell). No dose-effect relation was found between chromosome aberration and total cumulative doses, recent 5 yr, recent 2 yr cumulative dose. But in case of last 1 yr cumulative dose, dose-dependant increase was observed when controls were considered(p<0.05). The radiation dose which workers have received was much lower than the maximum permissible dose, but there was a significant difference in the frequency of chromosome aberration between occupationally exposed workers and control. So, it is clear that chromosome aberration is a quite sensitive indicator of radiation exposure and it can be detected at very low dose level of occupational exposure.
병원내 방사선 작업 종사자 51명(진단방사선과 18명, 치료방사선과 17명, 핵의학과 16명)에서 림프구의 염색체이상 빈도를 대조군 49명과 비교하여 저선량 만성피폭시 인체에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 종사자의 축적선량은 0.30-40.07 mSv 였으며 총축적선량 5 mSv 이하가 46%로 가장 많았다. 염색체 이상이 있는 세포수는 종사자군에서 1.275%로, 대조군에서의 0.677%에 비해 더 높았다(p<0.001). 염색분체형 이상은 종사자군이 약간 높은 경향은 있지만 통계적인 유의성은 없었으며, 염색체형 이상은 대조군 $0.344{\times}10^{-2}$/cell에 비해 종사자군이 $0.706{\times}10^{-2}$/cell로 2.1배 높았다(p<0.05). 이중 교환은 대조군 $0.083{\times}10^{-2}$/cell에 비해 종사자군 $0.245{\times}10^{-2}$/cell로 3.0배 높았다(p<0.05). 총축적선량, 최근 5년 및 최근 2년간의 선량은 염색체이상과 선량-반응 관계가 없었으나, 최근 1년간 피폭선량과 염색체형 교환 빈도사이에 유의한 상관관계가 있었다(p<0.05). 근무년수와 염색체 이상빈도와 선량-반응관계는 없었으며, 각 작업부서 별 염색체이상 빈도 및 대조군과의 비교시, 염색체형 교환이 핵의학과 $0.313{\times}10^{-2}$/cell로 가장 높았으며 (p<0.05), 치료방사선과 근무자 $0.265{\times}10^{-2}$/cell (p=0.0622), 진단방사선과 근무자 $0.167{\times}10^{-2}$/cell (p=0.1107)순이었다. 색체이상이 유발될 수 있음을 확인하였으며, 따라서 림프구 염색체이상은 매우 낮은 양의 방사선 피폭에 의하여도 발생함을 알 수 있었다.