Biological monitoring of three 60Co radiation incident victims

Radiation-induced structural chromosomal aberrations were the only adverse effects found in three workers overexposed to 60Co gamma-radiation. Chromosomal analyses were performed on the 5th and 75th days after exposure. Hematologic follow-up was carried out on the 5th, 12th, 16th, and 75th days after exposure. Hematologic findings did not differ over time in any of the three exposed workers. In two workers, we found dicentric chromosomes, which are conventional indicators for exposure to ionizing radiation.