| NUKLEONIKA 2013, 58(4):527-531
DOES OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO LOW IONIZING RADIATION AFFECT ENDOTHELIUM HEALTH?Ghassan Al-Massarani, Fadi Najjar Biomarkers Laboratory, Medical Radiation Department, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low-radiation exposure on detachment of the vascular endothelial cells. Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) were measured in the peripheral blood by an immunomagnetic separation (IMS) technique in 63 workers occupationally exposed to low-level ionizing radiation at the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria and in 28 controls. We found a significant difference in CEC numbers in the peripheral blood of the workers exposed to low-level ionizing radiation in comparison with those of the control samples (p = 0.0001) and no significant difference in the proportion of other blood elements in the peripheral circulation. Elevated number of CEC in occupational workers exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation may reflect an early affection of the endothelium. Long-term follow-up of these workers must be conducted to determine the clinical value of CEC as an early indicator of cardiovascular disease induced as a result of chronic occupational exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. Close X |