Dynamic observation on DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation

Objective In order t o investiga te the dynamic change of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation,the singl e cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE)was car ried out in workers exposed to radiation for many years.Method The le ngth and ra te of DNA migration of peripheral blood lymphocytes of exposed workers were anal yzed in 1996,1997,1998,1999 and 2000. Res ult The significantly different le ngth of DNA migration and DNA damage cell rate were exhibited between the observed and control groups(P0.05),and the level of DNA damage was increasing after exposed to long,small dose radiation.In the mean of annual dose equivalent of exposed ra diation,no elevated trend of DNA damage cell rate was observed in the continuou s years.Significant associations were ob served between the DNA damage cell rate and radiation service length,age,average annual dose equivalent.Conclusion These findings suggest that the technique of SCGE could be used to detect dynamically the earliest biological damage by ioniz ing radiation in exposed workers.