Chromosome aberrations in workers of nuclear-power plants

The frequencies of chromosome aberrations in 135 workers from nuclear- power plants were compared with those in 135 age-matched controls. A total of 135,000 cells was scored. The frequencies of dicentric chromosome were 1.67 x 10(-3) in the exposed group and 0.49 x 10(-3) in the control group and those of chromosome-type deletion were 3.33 x 10(-3) and 1.10 x 10(-3), respectively. The frequencies of all types of chromosome aberrations in the exposed subjects were higher than those in the control group, but no significant trend of dose-dependent increase was observed when only the exposed group were considered. Poisson regression analysis, with both exposed and control included, showed that there was a significant association of chromosome aberration with radiation dose and the duration of work, but not with age, smoking habit and alcohol intake. It was also found that recent exposure to radiation, within the last 5 years, had contributed more to the observed chromosome aberration than earlier exposure.