Effects of occupational exposure on blood cells of radiographers working in diagnostic radiology department of Khuzestan Province

Abstract

Introduction: Because radiology technologists are exposed to protracted low-dose ionizing radiation and considering the possible effects of low-dose radiation on blood factors, we aimed to investigate the effects of occupational exposure on blood factors of radiographers working in radiology departments of Khuzestan Province, Iran. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Khuzestan Province, Iran, during 2015. Blood samples were obtained from 95 radiology technologists and 85 matched, nonradiated controls. The participants were chosen using the cluster sampling method. The data were collected by performing complete blood count (CBC) assay with a Sysmex cell counter. To analyze the data, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were run in SPSS, version 16. Results: T-test demonstrated that the mean values of blood factors were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups (radiographer and non-radiographer) by gender. Conclusion: In this study, occupational exposure did not have any deleterious effects on radiographers' blood factor levels, but with increasing age and work experience in radiographers, number of white blood cell decreased. © 2018, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.