Investigation of oxidative DNA damage levels of healthcare workers exposed to radiation

Background This study aimed to assess oxidative DNA damage products based on the ionizing radiation exposure levels of healthcare workers who are either directly exposed to or use ionizing radiation in their work. Methods In the study, three groups were defined based on the probability of radiation exposure, ranging from the highest-risk group to the lowest, with the fourth group designated as the control group. A questionnaire was administered to participants likely exposed to radiation and to control groups, after which oxidative DNA damage markers were assessed in their initial morning urine. Results In our study, the Kruskal-Wallis test conducted for: age, height, weight, years of work, total working years, weekly working hours, and radiation exposure among the four different groups found statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of age, height, and weight (p-values: .011, .038, .003, respectively). However, in our study, it was observed that there was no significant relationship between oxidative DNA damage parameters 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), (5'S), (5'R), and 8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosines (S-and R-cdA) based on radiation exposure (p: .132, .179, and .611, respectively). Conclusion The lack of significant oxidative DNA damage caused by low dose ionizing radiation was attributed to the expertise of workers and effective use of protective equipment. It was also concluded that low-dose radiation exposure did not significantly cause oxidative DNA damage, and risks could be reduced with antioxidant products.