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Spontaneous abortions in female populations occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation

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Abstract

Objective

Exposure to radioisotopes of metals and halogen elements occurring in medical practice may cause spontaneous abortions. The potential role of occupational exposure to X-rays and internal radioisotopes on pregnancy outcome in childbearing age women employed in hospital departments were analyzed in order to estimate miscarriage risk.

Methods

Over a period of 16 years, the occurrence of miscarriages in 61 women exposed to radioisotopes was compared to that reported in 170 X-ray exposed women. Chromosomal aberrations (CA) were measured in both radiation-exposed groups and in 53 non-exposed women.

Results

Women exposed to radioisotopes experienced at least a threefold higher rate of spontaneous abortions than those exposed to X-ray (OR = 3.68, 95% CI = 1.39–9.74, P < 0.01). Although X-ray and radioisotopes exposed women had significantly higher levels of chromosome type frequency (0.51 ± 0.82, and 0.63 ± 0.99, respectively) than referents (0.17 ± 0.34), there was no clear difference between radiation-exposed women.

Conclusions

For exposure levels within standard recommended guidelines, radioisotopes are far more likely to play a role in the occurrence of spontaneous abortions than X-rays. Such biological effect is not detectable by deviations in CA frequency.

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Acknowledgment

JNL work support by NIH grant # 1 R43 CA117161-01 and DOD, contract #DAMD17-02-C-0008. AF and DFM work supported by EC contract #FOOD-CT-2005-016320 (NewGeneris).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000, Zagreb, Ksaverska c 2, Croatia

    Aleksandra Fucic

  2. National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy

    Domenico Franco Merlo & Marcello Ceppi

  3. ChromoTrax, Inc., Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Frederick, MD, USA

    Joe N. Lucas

  4. Emeritus, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA

    Joe N. Lucas

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  1. Aleksandra Fucic
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  2. Domenico Franco Merlo
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  3. Marcello Ceppi
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  4. Joe N. Lucas
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Correspondence to Aleksandra Fucic.

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Fucic, A., Merlo, D.F., Ceppi, M. et al. Spontaneous abortions in female populations occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81, 873–879 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0281-1

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