Cataract in Occupationally Exposed Workers

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was the determination of criteria for recognition of a presenile cataract as a professional disease in healthcare personnel exposed to small doses of ionizing radiation. Method: The study included 3240 health workers in the medical centers of Serbia in the period 1992–2002. A total of 1560 workers were employed in the zone (group A) and 1680 out of ionizing radiation zone (group B). From group A, two groups had been selected: 1. Group A–1: Health workers in the ionizing radiation zone who contracted lens cataract during their years of service while the dosimeter could not reveal higher absorbed doses (A–1 = 115); 2. Group A–2: Health workers in the ionizing radiation zone with higher incidence of chromosomal aberrations and without cataract (A–2 = 100). Results: More significant incidence of cataract was found in group A, χ 2 = 65.92; p < 0.01. Radiation risk was higher in health workers in radiation zone than in others, the relative risk is 4.6. Elevated blood sugar...