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 to
abnormal hematological findings, cancer (including leukaemia), birth defects in the future
children of exposed parents, and cataracts. There is no published report in Ethiopia
addressing 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 and
therapeutic technologists and controls of selected Governmental Hospitals in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Method: A comparative cross-sectional study with 182 participants in the period October
2015 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 blood
morphology was done from a stained smear. Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using
SPSS version 21. Student t-test was used to compare the hematological parameter means
between the two groups, the exposed and the control. Bivariate correlation statistics was used
to draw association between the dependent and independent variables. P values ≤ 0.05 were
considered 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 and
Basophils 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 the
exposed group. Atypical lymphocytes were significantly higher in the exposed group; 65/91
of the exposed and only 7 of the non-exposed group have such abnormal picture. There were
larger effects on the lymphocyte of exposed workers with high number of atypical
lymphocytes. A smaller but not negligible effect was noted on white blood cells and medium
effects on mean cell haemoglobin, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet
large cell ratio, Basophil and monocytes.
Conclusion: It is not deniable that low dose ionizing radiation is imposing impact on the
haematological as well as immunological system of medical imaging and therapeutic
technologists as there are larger effects on the lymphocyte and basophil subsets of exposed
workers.
Key
words:
ionizing
radiation,
hematological
parameters,
atypical
lymphocyte
Description
Keywords
Ionizing radiation, Hematological, Parameters, Atypical lymphocyte