POTENTIAL TOXIC EFFECTS TRIGGERED BY RADIATION EXPOSURE AMONG MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHERS THROUGH AN IMBALANCE IN TRACE ELEMENTS AND REDOX STATUSREHAB M. EL-GHARABAWY, MAHA A. AL-DUBAYAN, MANSOUR S. ALSHARIDAH, AMAL A. AL-HADYAB AND SOMAYAH A. ALSUHAIBANIAbstract Prolonged exposure to radiation may be associated with high incidence of health hazards. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential toxic effects of radiation on the level of trace elements and structure of hair among radiographers. The participants were divided into three equal groups (20 per group) (control group, male medical radiographers with X-ray exposure group, and radiographers exposed to radiation from multiple sources. The levels of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), conjugated dienes (CD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined. Electron microscopy was employed for examination of hair samples. The radiographers exposed to X-ray and multiple radiation sources exhibited considerably significant elevation in the levels of studied trace elements in the blood, imbalance in their systemic redox status which was reflected by a significant increase in the levels of nitrite, CD, and TBARS and a significant decrease in SOD activity and GSH. Electron microscopy examination of hair samples revealed that the lamellae underwent cuticle disorganisation deterioration and the whole cell was vacuolated. Prolonged exposure to radiation induces accumulation of toxic concentration of trace elements in blood and alteration in hair structure. |