Applying Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy to Determine Trace Elements in the Blood of Workers in Radiation Sources

Examining the long-term effects of radiation on workers necessitates taking into account the parameters where even minor adjustments may have a significant impact on the biological system. In this regard, we believe that body trace elements play essential functions. The objective of this study was to examine how occupational exposure affected blood trace element concentrations. in the blood of (30) employees of the Iraqi Radioactive Resources Control Authority who had a deal with radioactive sources, in addition to (20) other administrators working in the central laboratories of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission as a control group,  had not a history of radiation exposure, the analyses were carried out using optical plasma emission spectroscopy coupled to induction (ICP-OES). All employees and administrators are between (30-64) years old and have worked for at least (15) years. The study was conducted in the Directorate of Central Laboratories at the AL-Tuwaitha site in Baghdad. The study found a significant reduction in iron, and zinc levels among radioactive sources body workers in contrast with the control group, and found a significant increase in Cu in the employees compared with the control while no significant change was observed in manganese and selenium levels. Furthermore, the quality and confidence interval across the future operating characteristics curve was estimated. Specificity and confidence interval of 95% were estimated via the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). At the same time, serum manganese level (p-value 0.001) decreased proportionately with longer exposure times, which also showed statistical significance. Age and manganese levels were significantly correlated, but there was no association with the other trace elements. The study provided conclusive evidence of disturbances in the amounts of trace elements in the blood of workers in the Radioactive Sources Authority, which makes them more susceptible to many diseases due to their radiation exposure There was a correlation between trace element disturbances and increasing serving years, which portends the use of more preventive measures and adherence to the principles of radiation protection protocols to reduce the effects of radiation exposure.