Effects of chronic exposure of X-ray on hematological parameters in human blood

The aim of the study was to show how many X-ray technicians who work in radiology department at public-sector hospitals in Sulaimani city are affected by doses of X-ray from X-ray machines, fluoroscopy, and CT scan through examining 12 hematological parameters. The study group included 24 seemingly healthy female and male X-ray technicians. The group was subdivided into 12 female X-ray technicians having average ages of 39 and 14 years of 4 hourly per day of services. As well as, 12 male X-ray technicians having average ages of 41 and 15 years of 5 hourly per day of services. A group of 24 healthy control subjects was selected from outside of the hospitals; the group was subdivided into 12 females having average age of 33 years and 12 males having average of 39 years matched with the first group to reveal any alteration in hematological parameters. The statistical analysis of hematological parameters showed that among the female group, the parameter mean cell volume (MCV) was decreased significantly (P < 0.009) but the parameter mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) increased significantly (P < 0.049) compared to that among the control groups. The results showed that among the male group, the mean values of total white blood cells (tWBC) (P < 0.003) and platelet (PLT) counts (P < 0.03) decreased significantly compared with those among the control groups whereas no significant difference was observed between the rest of blood cell counts in the female and male groups. We concluded that chronic exposure to X-ray can produce significant increase in MCV and significant decrease in MCHC parameters in female X-ray technicians and significant decrease in the number of tWBC and PLT parameters in male X-ray technicians.