Cytogenetic analysis of blood lymphocytes from X-ray radiographers

Cytogenetic analysis was performed on blood lymphocytes from 46 healthy radiographers exposed to an annual dose of X-rays below the Maximum Permissible Occupational Limit (MPOL 5 rem/year) for a period ranging from 6 months to 26 years. Total chromosomal aberrations including dicentric and ring forms was 10.18%, which was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than that (1.17%) of 50 healthy unexposed individuals (controls). A significant increase in the frequency of SCEs in cells from radiographers (11.2 +/- 0.9 SCE/cell) was noticed as compared with the controls (6.9 +/- 0.2 SCE/cell). There was a significant difference in lymphocyte proliferation between the two groups. These results indicate the importance of monitoring the health status of radiation workers.