Biodosimetric methods for the evaluation of radiation damage to the organism

The alterations of chromosomes of human lymphocytes are used as a quantitative and specific indicators of radiation injury as a 'biological dosimeter. In this study we applied 4 types of cytogenetic analysis and 5 parameters of oxidation-reduction system in total blood, erythrocytes and blood plasma for the estimation of the radiation damage to the organism in 4 groups of human beings in the region of South Bohemia and especially in the citizens living near to the Temelin nuclear power plant. No statistically significant changes were observed in the compared groups, when the different parameters of the oxidation-reduction system were tested in erythrocytes or blood plasma. The results suggest a consideration that in spite of the fact that the employees did not immediately work in the nuclear power plant control zone, their radiation burden was higher then that in controls. All these employees also resided et distance up to 25 km from the nuclear power plant. Our study demonstrated that changes concerning certain parameters of the oxidation-reduction system after the ionizing radiation action that were still described in experimental studies also occur in man. In future studies it would be desirable to consider their possible changes in the course of radiotherapy, depending on the radiation dose. Changes in employees of the nuclear power plant that show similar nature as those in patients after radiotherapy (SOD, GSHPx, MDA) are of interest. The authors studied changes of selected cytogenetic and oxidation-reduction system parameters in the human plasma and blood elements on three different groups of persons in association with ionizing radiation effects (patients after radiotherapy, employees of the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant, in vitro irradiated blood after taking samples from healthy donors and control group) and the demonstrated changes that justify planning of future studies. (authors)