Analysis of chromosome aberrations in nuclear-power-plant workers considering the lifetime of lymphocytes

Purpose : To analyse chromosome aberrations in nuclear-power-plant workers taking account of the mean lifetime of lymphocytes (MLTL). Materials and methods : Analysis of chromosome aberrations was performed on peripheral lymphocytes from 395 nuclear-power-plant workers and 135 controls. An equivalent acute dose (EAD) was calculated utilizing MLTL values of either 4.3 or 10 years. Results : Using an MLTL value of 10 years produced an EAD range of 0.01 mSv - 182 mSv (mean 46.6 mSv), while using an MLTL of 4.3 years produced results ranging from 0.01 mSv to 86.2 mSv (mean 23.4 mSv). A significant increase of chromosome-type exchange by the equivalent acute dose was observed using an MLTL of either 10 or 4.3 years when including the control in the analysis, but a significant increase was not seen when only the exposed was considered. A significant increase of chromosome-type deletion by EAD was seen even when only the exposed group was considered. Conclusions : EAD values based on an MLTL of either 4.3 or 10 years, as well as cumulative dose, showed no significant association with chromosome aberrations, when radiation workers only were analysed. The narrow dose range examined in this study might have contributed to this finding.