Health outcomes of low-dose ionizing radiation exposure among medical workers: a cohort study of the Canadian national dose registry of radiation workers
Auteur Jan M Zielinski
Auteur Michael J Garner
Auteur Pierre R Band
Auteur Daniel Krewski
Auteur Natalia S Shilnikova
Auteur Huixia Jiang
Auteur Patrick J Ashmore
Auteur Willem N Sont
Auteur Martha E Fair
Auteur Ernest G Letourneau
Auteur Robert Semenciw
Résumé BACKGROUND: Medical workers can be exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation from various sources. The potential cancer risks associated with ionizing radiation exposure have been derived from cohort studies of Japanese atomic bomb survivors who had experienced acute, high-level exposure. Since such extrapolations are subject to uncertainty, direct information is needed on the risk associated with chronic low-dose occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. OBJECTIVES: To determine the occupational doses of ionizing radiation and examine possible associations with mortality rates and cancer incidence in a cohort of medical workers deriving from the National Dose Registry of Canada (NDR) over the period of 1951-1987. METHODS: Standardized mortality and incidence ratios (SMR and SIR, respectively) were ascertained by linking NDR data for a cohort of 67 562 medical workers (23 580 males and 43 982 females) with the data maintained by the Canadian Mortality, and Cancer Incidence databases. Dosimetry information was obtained from the National Dosimetry Services. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 1309 incident cases of cancer (509 in males, 800 in females) and 1325 deaths (823 in males, 502 in females) were observed. Mortality from cancer and non-cancer causes was generally below expected as compared to the general Canadian population. Thyroid cancer incidence was significantly elevated both among males and females, with a combined SIR of 1.74 and 90% CI: 1.40-2.10. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm previous reports on an increased risk of the thyroid cancer among medical workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. Over the last 50 years, radiation protection measures have been effective in reducing radiation exposures of medical workers to the current very low levels.
Publication International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
Volume 22
Numéro 2
Pages 149-156
Date 2009
Abréviation de revue Int J Occup Med Environ Health
DOI 10.2478/v10001-009-0010-y
ISSN 1232-1087
Chercher cette référence sur : Google Scholar, Worldcat
doi:10.2478/v10001-009-0010-y
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