Khisroon Muhammad, Khan Ajmal, Naseem Maryam, Ali Naheed, Khan Sardar, Rasheed Syed Basit
Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar.
J Occup Health. 2015;57(3):268-74. doi: 10.1539/joh.14-0154-OA. Epub 2015 Mar 6.
The importance of X-rays as a diagnostic medical tool cannot be denied. However, continuous exposure to X-rays can cause DNA damage. This study aimed to use the comet assay technique to investigate the level of DNA damage in lymphocytes due to X-rays in occupationally exposed personnel.
Blood samples were collected from 74 exposed and 70 control subjects for analysis. A total of 100 randomly captured cells from each slide were examined using an epifluorescent microscope. The comets were analyzed by a visual scoring method according to comet tail length.
The results indicated a significant increase (p<0.05) in DNA damage in X-rays technicians (129.8 ± 17.2) as compared with the control group (53.0 ± 25.0). A significant increase (p<0.02) in DNA damage was also observed with an increase in exposure duration of technicians because of their service length.
The present study suggests that the exposed radiology personnel should carefully comply with radiation protection procedures such as wearing of lead apron during diagnostic procedures and minimize radiation exposure where possible to avoid potential genotoxic effects due to X-rays.
X射线作为一种诊断医学工具的重要性不可否认。然而，持续暴露于X射线会导致DNA损伤。本研究旨在使用彗星试验技术调查职业暴露人员因X射线导致的淋巴细胞DNA损伤水平。
采集74名暴露组和70名对照组受试者的血样进行分析。使用落射荧光显微镜检查每张载玻片上随机捕获的100个细胞。根据彗星尾长通过视觉评分法对彗星进行分析。
结果表明，与对照组（53.0±25.0）相比，X射线技术人员的DNA损伤显著增加（p<0.05）（129.8±17.2）。由于技术人员的工作年限，随着暴露时间的增加，DNA损伤也显著增加（p<0.02）。
本研究表明，暴露的放射科人员应严格遵守辐射防护程序，如在诊断过程中穿戴铅围裙，并尽可能减少辐射暴露，以避免因X射线产生潜在的遗传毒性作用。
