Mazin R Mohammed, Shaymaa M Abdulateef, Najm A Dawood, Mustafa G Taher, Shatha A Jabur, Abdulkareem H Alwain.
Effects of radiation on the hematological parameters in X-ray technicians: a case-control study.
J Pioneering Med Students Jan ;4(2):85-8.

BACKGROUND: X-ray technicians are at risk of varying degrees of radiation exposure during their work. One consequence of radiation exposure is changes in hematological parameters. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of X- ray radiation on hematological parameters in X-ray technicians. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Hematology, Baqubah teaching hospital, Diyala, Iraq during the year 2011. In this study a group of 47 apparently healthy X-ray technicians (34 males; 13 females) with age ranging from 25-50 years were recruited. Technicians were compared with another group of 20 apparently healthy control subjects in the same range of age, gender, ethnic origin. Hematological parameters and blood cell morphology were observed using a blood cell auto-analyser (Sysmex Coulter Counter) and blood films respectively. RESULTS: The percentage of atypical lymphocytes was significantly higher (p<0.01) in X-ray technicians when compared to control group. Positive correlation was found between percentage of atypical lymphocytes and duration of exposure to X-ray (correlation = 0.67; p=0.005). However, no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the rest of hematological parameters between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that exposure to X-ray radiation causes atypical changes in the lymphocyte morphology. Further studies are needed to study the long term effects of X-ray radiation on hematological parameters and immunophenotyping of atypical lymphocyte population in X-ray technicians.

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