Investigation on peripheral blood cells change of radiation workers

  Objective  To investigate the changes of peripheral blood cells among radiation workers, and to provide evidence for occupational health risk assessment of radiation workers.

  Methods  A total of 1 173 radiation workers, including 249 medical staff and 924 workers in industries, who had occupational health examination during January 2017 to December 2019, were studied and 480 workers who had pre-job radiation physical examination were selected as the control group. The occupational health examination data were collected and the influence of the peripheral blood cells of radiation workers were analyzed.

  Results  The annual effective dose of these radiation workers varied from 0.08 mSv to 0.85 mSv, and was lower than the occupational exposure limit. The total number of white blood cells(WBC), red blood cells (RBC), and hemoglobin(Hb) of radiation workers(medical staff and workers in industries) were lower than those in the control group, while the platelet(PLT) was high(P < 0.05). The decrease in the proportion of neutrophils(NEUT) and the increase in the proportion of lymphocytes(LYMP)(P < 0.05) among radiation workers were found. Compared with the control group, the abnormal rate of WBC and Hb in radiation workers was increased(P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of RBC, PLT, and Hb of male radiation workers was lower than that of females(P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of WBC and Hb increased with increasing working time(P < 0.05).

  Conclusions  Occupational exposure to low dose radiation could still affect the peripheral blood cells of radiation workers, particularly the female.