Genotoxic risk in health-care professionals occupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential influence of occupational ionizing radiation (IR) exposure on health professionals, assessing DNA damage using the comet and micronucleus (MN) assays and analyzing relative risks, correlations, and associated factors between outcomes and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Blood and buccal samples were collected from 36 workers, who actively participated in an imaging sector of a hospital, who were either exposed to IR directly or indirectly (9 internal control and 27 exposed), and 27 individuals living in the same city but with no occupational exposure (external control, unexposed/healthy). All radiation dosages performed on the 36 workers were less than 20 mSv/y, not exceeding the effective dose limit for occupational exposure. A questionnaire identified socioeconomic and lifestyle factors associated with the outcomes. The results of the MN assay showed a significant difference between both internal control and the exposed group when compared to the external control. For the comet assay, there were significant differences between the percent of tail DNA of the exposed group and external controls, but no difference was found between the exposed group and internal controls. Relative risk associations were found in time of exposure, hours worked per week, and perceived stress. Correlations were found between the outcomes and age, consumption of alcohol, and frequencies of X-rays during life. Variables that showed to be significant in the adjusted analysis were skin color and recent exposure to radiation. Albeit limited, the findings of this study suggest genotoxicity in both blood and buccal mucosa cells of workers exposed directly or indirectly to IR and that lifestyle and socioeconomic factors are associated and correlated with the risk of developing these outcomes.