Cytogenetic monitoring of Workers from a Nuclear Power Plant

Alexander K. Vaglenov, Veselin V. Bliznakov and Atanas G. Karadjov

National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, Sofia, Bulgaria
 
Corresponding author:
Assoc. Prof. Alexander Vaglenov, M.D., Ph.D.
National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection
132 Kl. Ohridski Blvd., 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: (02) 626037
Fax: (02) 621059

CEJOEM 1997, 3:40-57


Key words: Cytogenetic monitoring, human lymphocyte micronucleus assay, occupational exposure, ionizing radiation, nuclear power plant

Abbreviations:
MN = micronucleus
NPP= nuclear power plant
CB = cytokinesis blocked


Abstract: Blood samples from 142 persons working in a nuclear power plant were studied. As a biological indicator for radiation injury the micronucleus cytokinesis-block method in human peripheral lymphocytes was used. For each person 1000 binuclear cells were analysed. The MN frequencies in a control group of 26 workers from the administrative staff were established ranging from 6 to 29 in 1000 cells at a mean relative rate of 18.7±6.6‰. Statistically significant change in MN frequency of NPP workers has been observed as compared to the background frequency. The personnel studied were divided into 7 groups according to the level of radiation exposure accumulated during the working period as follows: 14.9±15.27 mSv (30 persons); 74.36±16.62 mSv (22 persons); 150.4±26.89 mSv (19 persons); 268.30±27.07 mSv (28 persons); 340.2±28.6 mSv (18 persons); 445.8±28.6 mSv (13 persons) and 591.86±76.79 mSv (12 persons), and the micronucleus frequency yielded: 29.9±12.8; 38.8±17.1; 45.5±25.1; 38.2±14.5; 44.0±16.5; 44.1±19.4 and 54.1±20.2, respectively. The frequency of micronuclei could be presented by the linear equation MN=34.0+0.03 mSv. The very low doses up to 200 mSv induce a high rate of MN increase: MN=29.0+0.114 mSv. After higher doses of 300 and over 500 mSv the growth rate is smaller: MN=26.7+0.045 mSv. In reanalysed 20 persons, MN frequencies are similar in most of the cases, however some of them differ considerably in the direction over the spontaneous frequency as well as within its limits. The results obtained illustrate the high sensitivity of the micronucleus method in binucleated lymphocytes as an indicator of radiation damage.
Received: 17 January 1997
Accepted: 08 February 1997

Posted: 16 December 1998

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