Effect of low-dose nuclear radiation exposure and obesity on complete blood counts in the nuclear power workers

Objective: We explored the effect of low-dose nuclear radiation exposure, obesity, and abdominal obesity on complete blood counts in the nuclear power workers. Methods: We collected information of health check-ups from 1388 active workers in a nuclear power station, and determined their peripheral white blood cells (WBC) and each category, red blood cells (RBC), and platelets (PLT) counts. Obesity and abdominal obesity were defined as body-mass index of 30 kg/m² or greater and waist circumference of 90 cm or greater in men, respectively. Results: Longer working year as a nuclear power worker was the independent risk factor for increased counts of WBC and decreased percentage of monocytes, obesity was the independent risk factor for increased counts of WBC, and abdominal obesity was the independent risk factor for increased counts of WBC, RBC, and PLT, and decreased percentage of basophils (all P < 0.05). After stratifying by working years, obese workers of 1-9 years and abdominally obese workers of 1-9 and 10-19 years had higher counts of WBC than those of the non-obese and non-abdominally-obese workers in the corresponding working year groups, respectively (all P < 0.01). Conclusion: Long-term exposure to low-dose nuclear radiation was associated with increased peripheral WBC counts in the nuclear power workers, which might be exacerbated by obesity or abdominal obesity. (authors)