DEATH OF CLASSIFIED WORKER PROBABLY CAUSED BY OVEREXPOSURE TO GAMMA-RADIATION

This paper describes the case of an industrial radiographer who was se riously overexposed to gamma radiation. The exact circumstances of his exposure were not established but it was concluded that he was repeat edly irradiated probably to a total average whole body dose of at leas t 10 Gy over several years. Also, a much larger dose to a hand require d its partial amputation. He developed myelodysplasia, which progresse d to acute myeloid leukaemia from which he died. Karyotypic examinatio n of the leukaemic blasts showed changes very similar to those associa ted with secondary leukaemia that may develop after radio or chemother apy. The paper describes his medical case history, the investigation o f his workplace, and the attempts to estimate his radiation dose by ch romosomal analysis of blood lymphocytes and electron spin resonance of dental enamel and bone.