Haematological Profile of Healthy Workers Exposed to Low Dose Radiation

Abstract

Background: Long-term exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation may affect cells and tissues and result to various adverse health effects. Objective: To compare the haematological profile such as (red blood cell count, haemoglobin or hematocrit levels, white blood cell count and platelet count) of medical imaging and therapeutic technologists and controls selected from medical hospitals in Kumanovo and Skopje. Method: The study was performed on 140 subjects including 70 persons working with X-ray machines as the case group and 70 unexposed individual as the control. Complete blood cell count was performed with a haematology cell counter (Hem count 50L, Deutschland).Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Mean values of hematocrit - HCT, mean cell haemoglobin - MCH, red cell distribution width - RDW, white blood cell –WBC, platelets – PLT, plateletcrit – PCT and platelet distribution width - PDW have shown significant difference from the control group. The mean MCH, PLT, PCT and PDW were higher, while HCT, RDW, WBC, granulocytes and neutrophils were lower in the exposed group. Conclusion: The haematopoietic system is highly sensitive to radiation and the peripheral blood count may well serve a biological indication. The rapid recovery of this tissue limits its application as a diagnostic tool to accidental cases of irradiation.

Keywords: ionizing radiation, haematological parameters, side effects, occupational health services.