Micronuclei as quantitative indicators of chromosomal aberrations among workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to compare the evaluation of radiation damage by two biodosimetric methods [chromosome aberration analysis and micronucleus determination] in cytochalasin B induced binucleated lymphocytes. Blood samples of a healthy adult were irradiated by different doses of X and gamma rays. A positive statistically significant correlation has been obtained between the incidence of chromosome aberrations, micronuclei frequencies and the doses of radiation. Also, these two methods have been used to quantify radiation damage in circulating lymphocytes of humans occupationally exposed to tritium. The micronuclei analysis confirmed the results of chromosome dosimetry even at low dose ranges