The Influence of Low-Dose Occupational Radiation Exposure on Peripheral Blood Cell in a Cohort Chinese Medical Radiation Workers

Abstract

The study aims to assess the change of peripheral blood cell number following protracted low-dose radiation exposure among medical radiation workers.A cohort of 185 Chinese radiation workers which divided into 4 groups by different occupational categories which include Interventional radiologists group (IRG); nuclear medicine doctors group (NMD); medical diagnostic radiographers group (MDR); radiologists group (RG) were followed by 5 years (2015-2019). This study observed and recorded the changes in the cumulative dose and peripheral blood cell counts consecutively for five years. While exploring the changes in blood cells and cumulative dose, the correlation between dose and the quantity of peripheral blood cells was also discussed. Individual doses were recorded by dose monitoring system. The counts of peripheral blood cell were based on the physical examination data of the workers of the annual physical examination in the hospitality-test, SD-T test and Variance analysis were used to analyze the radiation dose-response changes of the peripheral blood cell. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the number of peripheral blood cells and the cumulative dose.The results of this study showed that compared with the control group, the number of white blood cells (WBCs), the number of hemoglobin (Hb) and the ratio of eosinophils (EO%) in the study group decreased (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis between the average cumulative dose in different years and the number of peripheral blood cells in different groups showed that the average cumulative dose of nuclear medicine group in 2016 was negatively correlated with WBC (r = -0.602, P < 0.05) and NE% (r = -0.596, P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the average cumulative dose of the radiological diagnosis group in 2015 and MO% (r = 0.530, P < 0.01). For the radiologists' group, there was a significant negative correlation between the average cumulative dose and the number of WBCs in 2016 (r = -3.37, P < 0.05), and there was a significant negative correlation between the average cumulative dose and RBC in 2017 (r = -4.12, P < 0.05).The results of the study suggest that the blood cell levels of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation for a long time can show dynamic changes, and relevant workers should take appropriate protection measures and regularly monitor peripheral blood cell indicators.