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Published on: July 3, 2015
Spontaneous abortions in female populations occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation
Aleksandra Fucic1, Domenico Franco Merlo, Marcello Ceppi
1Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000, Zagreb, Ksaverska c 2, Croatia. afucic@imi.hr
Objective:
Exposure to radioisotopes of metals and halogen elements occurring in medical practice may cause spontaneous abortions. The potential role of occupational exposure to X-rays and internal radioisotopes on pregnancy outcome in childbearing age women employed in hospital departments were analyzed in order to estimate miscarriage risk.
Methods:
Over a period of 16 years, the occurrence of miscarriages in 61 women exposed to radioisotopes was compared to that reported in 170 X-ray exposed women. Chromosomal aberrations (CA) were measured in both radiation-exposed groups and in 53 non-exposed women.
Results:
Women exposed to radioisotopes experienced at least a threefold higher rate of spontaneous abortions than those exposed to X-ray (OR = 3.68, 95% CI = 1.39-9.74, P < 0.01). Although X-ray and radioisotopes exposed women had significantly higher levels of chromosome type frequency (0.51 +/- 0.82, and 0.63 +/- 0.99, respectively) than referents (0.17 +/- 0.34), there was no clear difference between radiation-exposed women.
Conclusions:
For exposure levels within standard recommended guidelines, radioisotopes are far more likely to play a role in the occurrence of spontaneous abortions than X-rays. Such biological effect is not detectable by deviations in CA frequency.
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