Effects of Low Dose Ionizing Radiation on the Hematological Parameters in Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Technologists Working in Selected Governmental Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2016-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Exposure to ionizing radiations including x-rays and gamma rays leads toabnormal hematological findings, cancer (including leukaemia), birth defects in the futurechildren of exposed parents, and cataracts. There is no published report in Ethiopiaaddressing the effect of low dose radiation on hematological parameters.
Objective: To compare the hematological profile such as (RBCs count, RBC indices, Hb,Hct levels, WBCs, platelets count and peripheral morphology) of medical imaging andtherapeutic technologists and controls of selected Governmental Hospitals in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Method: A comparative cross-sectional study with 182 participants in the period October2015 to June 2016 was carried out. Of them, 91 were radiation exposed and 91 were controls.Hematological parameters were analyzed using Sysmex XT-2000i. Peripheral bloodmorphology was done from a stained smear. Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed usingSPSS version 21. Student t-test was used to compare the hematological parameter meansbetween the two groups, the exposed and the control. Bivariate correlation statistics was usedto draw association between the dependent and independent variables. P values ≤ 0.05 wereconsidered statistically significant. Data was cleaned, entered and analysed using SPSS 21.
Result: Mean values of White Blood Cells, Mean Cell Hemoglobin, Mean Platelet Volume,Platelet Distribution Width, Platelet Large Cell Ratio, Lymphocytes, Monocytes andBasophils have shown significant difference from the control group. The mean MCH, PDW,P-LCR were higher while WBC, MPV, LYMPH, MONO, and BASO were lower in theexposed group. Atypical lymphocytes were significantly higher in the exposed group; 65/91of the exposed and only 7 of the non-exposed group have such abnormal picture. There werelarger effects on the lymphocyte of exposed workers with high number of atypicallymphocytes. A smaller but not negligible effect was noted on white blood cells and mediumeffects on mean cell haemoglobin, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, plateletlarge cell ratio, Basophil and monocytes.
Conclusion: It is not deniable that low dose ionizing radiation is imposing impact on thehaematological as well as immunological system of medical imaging and therapeutictechnologists as there are larger effects on the lymphocyte and basophil subsets of exposedworkers.
Keywords:ionizing radiation,hematological parameters, atypical lymphocyte
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Keywords
Ionizing radiation HematologicalParameters Atypical lymphocyte