Preliminary study on chromosome aberration and hemogram variation in 236 uranium miners

To investigate the difference of chromosome aberration and peripheral hemogram between uranium miners and healthy adults, 64 healthy peoples (control group) and 236 uranium miners (miners group) volunteered to take part in the investigation. The peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosome aberration and peripheral hemogram were analyzed by micro whole blood culture method and blood cell analyzer, respectively. The result show that chromosome-tape aberrations rate, chromatid-tape aberrations, total aberrations rate, and the aberrant cells rate in miners group were 0.16%, 0.20%, 0.36% and 0.30%, respectively, whereas these index in control group were 0.02%, 0.06%, 0.08%, and 0.08%, respectively. There is statistically significant difference between miners group and control group (u = 2.80, p < 0.01; u = 2.40, p < 0.05; u = 3.60, p < 0.01; χ² = 9.88, p < 0.01). There is significant difference in the counts of PLT between miners group and control group (160.53 ± 41.74 vs.218.04 ± 34.98, 10⁹/L, p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference in the counts of WBC and RBC (WBC: 6.63 ± 1.58 vs. 6.89 ± 1.69, 10⁹/L; RBC: 4.95 ± 0.53 vs.4.98 ± 0.47, 10¹²/L, p > 0.05). And there is significant difference in the abnormal rates of RBC between miners group and control group (11.02% vs.0%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, Owing to the effect of the radiation, the chromosome aberration rate of uranium miners has been increased. The analysis of chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes is more sensitive than that of peripheral hemogram index in the occupational health examination for radiological workers. (authors)