Shanghai Radiation Staff Health Care Data Analysis

ObjectiveThis work was aimed to study the health status of radiation workers in Shanghai, observing long-term low-dose effect of radiation and its time course changes, in order to provide a reference for protecting the health of radiation workers.Methods1. Survey on health status of radiation workers in Shanghai in 2007The demographic characteristics of radiation workers in 2007 were presented. The varied health indicators were analyzed based on the occupational health examination data of radiation workers. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0 software.2. Following up of health status of selected radiation workers for 6 years.The medical data of the radiation workers who received occupational health examination continuously for 6 years were analyzed to observe the health status change after long-term exposure to radiation.Results1. The demographic characteristics of radiation workers in 2007The male accounted for a high percentage of radiation workers. Age distribution was concentrated in the age of 30. Radiation workers were mainly from Pudong New Area and Xuhui District. Most radiation workers exposed to radiation via radiation facility (type B), particularly X-ray machines. More workers worked in the non-medical area.2. Health status of radiation workers1) Abnormal rate of blood indicatorsThe differences of the abnormal rates of hemoglobin and platelet were not significant among radiation workers with different ages. There were no significant differences of abnormal rate of leukocyte among radiation workers who received pre-employment examination, while there were significant differences of abnormal rate of leukocyte among radiation workers who received regular examination after employment. There was significant difference of abnormal rate of leukocyte between pre-employment and regular examination after employment among radiation workers ratified by age. There were no significant differences of the abnormal rate of hemoglobin and platelet between pre-employment examination and the regular examination. There were significant differences of the counts of leukocyte and hemoglobin between pre-employment examination and the regular examination.2) The analysis of abnormality of other health indicatorsThe chromosome aberrations had no correlation with age at the pre-employment. The rate of eye lens opacities, nail and thyroid abnormalities increased with aging, the differences were significant.The data also showed that positive rate of HBsAg of radiation workers was 5.3% with great variation among different ages. The abnormality of GPT had no statistical difference among different ages. The data also suggested the rate of the fatty infiltration of liver, fatty liver, hypertension and abnormal electrocardiogram increased with aging just like general population.3) Health status variation of radiation workers with different job or at different hospitalsThere were no significant differences of abnormal rate of leukocyte, hemoglobin and platelet among radiation workers with different jobs (application of isotopes or operation of radiation facilities). The differences of abnormal rate of leukocyte, hemoglobin and platelet among radiation workers at different hospitals (level 1, level 2 or level3) were not significant.3. 6 year following up of health status of selected radiation workersThe indicators, such as leukocyte, hemoglobin and platelet count of radiation workers were within the scope of reference values each year. There were significant differences of leukocyte, hemoglobin and platelet count of radiation workers between different years. The radiation worker working in medical area has a lower hemoglobin level compared with these working in non-medical area. The rate of liver fatty infiltration or fatty liver increased with aging. ConclusionsLong-term occupational exposure to low doses of radiation may cause health problem. It reminds us that radiological protection should be further strengthened.Modern lifestyles also bring health problem to radiation workers, such as fatty liver, liver fat infiltration, Hypertension, etc. It indicated that in addition to radiation protection, the radiation workers should actively promote healthy lifestyles in order to prevent chronic disease.