Redox dysregulation in imaging professionals occupationally exposed to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

Abstract

Purpose: Imaging professionals are occupationally exposed to chronic ionizing radiation (IR) and non-ionizing radiation (NIR). This study aimed to investigate the influence of occupational radiation exposure on oxidative stress and antioxidant levels based on blood biomarkers in different hospital imaging professional groups.

Materials and methods: The study groups included 66 imaging professionals occupationally exposed to IR (n = 58, 43 diagnostic radiography (G1), seven nuclear medicine (G2), eight radiation therapy (G3)), and NIR (n = 8, ultrasound imaging (G4)) and 60 non-exposed controls. Blood levels of superoxide (O₂^•−) as an index of oxidative stress, and the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), and catalase (CAT) were measured.

Results: The blood values of O₂^•−, SOD, and CAT were significantly higher in imaging professionals occupationally exposed to radiation than in the control group (p < .05), while a significant decrease in the ratio of GSH/GSSG was observed (p < .05). The results from the NIR group were significantly higher compared to IR group.

Conclusions: Based on these results, chronic exposure to radiation (IR and NIR) is associated with redox dysregulation that may result in damages to cellular biomolecules including lipids, proteins and DNA. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of redox dysregulation and the need for periodic examination among imaging professionals occupationally exposed to IR and NIR.

Keywords:

• Redox dysregulation
• ionizing radiation
• non-ionizing radiation
• imaging professionals
• antioxidants
• glutathione

Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by the Charles R. O’Malley Charitable Lead Trust. EPR Spectroscopy data collection was obtained from the University of Nebraska’s EPR Spectroscopy Core, which is supported, in part, by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (P30GM103335) awarded to the University of Nebraska’s Redox Biology Center. We thank the clinical research center staff and workers at Nebraska Medicine for their contributions.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by the Charles R. O’Malley Charitable Lead Trust.

Notes on contributors

Iman M. Ahmad

Iman M. Ahmad, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical, Diagnostic, & Therapeutic Sciences, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Lisa Bartenhagen

Lisa Bartenhagen, MS, RT(R)(T) ARRT, is an Associate Professor and Charles R O'Malley Endowed Chair at the Department of Clinical, Diagnostic, & Therapeutic Sciences, Program Director – Radiation Therapy Education, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Kimberly Michael

Kimberly Michael, MA, RT(R), RDMS, RVT, FSDMS, is a Professor at the Department of Clinical, Diagnostic, & Therapeutic Sciences, Anderson Professor of Imaging Sciences and Director, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Maher Y. Abdalla

Maher Y. Abdalla, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and a Senior Researcher at the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA.