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BackgroundExcessive radon exposure is considered the second risk factor for lung cancer. Since the opening of the subway in a city of Zhejiang Province, the exposure level of radioactive gas radon in subway stations and its impact on occupational health have become one of the important issues of public concern. ObjectiveTo monitor the radon concentration of subways in a city in Zhejiang Province and explore the effect of radon exposure on chromosome aberration and micronuclei in the working population. MethodsA total of 55 vehicle control rooms of 55 stations affiliated to two different subway lines in a city were measured for one year; the 110 ticket offices and 55 security checkpoints from the same 55 stations were measured from 16 March to 14 June. The radon concentrations were compared by job types, subway lines, and seasons referring to Measurement methods for determination of radon in environmental air (HJ 1212-2021). Peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosome aberration and micronucleus analyses were conducted in 165 subway workers from monitoring sites for three different job types, then the influencing factors were analyzed. The detection methods were adopted from the standards of Test and assessment of chromosomal aberrations on occupational health examinations for radiation workers (GBZ/T 248-2014) and Standard for the method of micronucleus detection in lymphocytes on occupational health examination for radiation workers and exposure dose estimation (GBZ/T 328-2023). ResultsThe radon concentration range of the target subways in Zhejiang Province was 10-320 Bq·m−3, all lower than the national limit (≤400 Bq·m−3). The differences in radon radioactivity levels among different lines, job types, and time segments were statistically significant (P0.05). Chromosome aberration and micronuclei varied by age, subway station seniority, and smoking (P0.05). ConclusionThe radon concentration in the target subway system is at a normal level. The rates of chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation vary by jobs, but both are lower than the corresponding national limits. Therefore, radon exposure has not yet caused outstanding health impact on the subway workers.

ObjectiveAssess the level of radiation-related knowledge (RRK) and nuclear energy-related knowledge (NERK) among residents near the Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant, the first project adopted the Advanced Passive Pressurized Water Reactor (AP1000) technology.MethodsIn this study, respondents were selected using stratified multi-stage random sampling for residents aged 18 years and above living within 30 kilometers of the Sanmen Nuclear Power Station. Respondents were surveyed face-to-face by investigators who received standardized training. The results of the survey were collated and analysed to assess the RRK and NERK levels of the respondents from both subjective and objective perspectives, and the anxiety levels were assessed using the Likert Scale. Factors affecting RRK, NERK and anxiety levels of residents were analysed using multiple linear regression analysis.ResultsThe study interviewed 751 individuals. Participants correctly answered an average of 2.76 out of 7 objective radiation knowledge questions, yielding a 39.4% RRK cognition rate. For nuclear energy knowledge, the average was 2.14 out of 7, resulting in a 30.5% NERK cognition rate. Spearman’s correlation and multiple linear regression analyses revealed that higher education and younger age were positively correlated with RRK and NERK. Gender significantly influenced NERK, with males scoring higher than females. Anxiety levels were inversely related to age and directly related to education. Regression analyses also indicated that occupation affected nuclear-related anxiety, and married and unmarried individuals exhibited higher anxiety levels than widowed individuals.ConclusionResidents near the Sanmen Nuclear Power Station showed improvements in RRK and NERK, but levels remained low. Both RRK and NERK correlated with age and education, while NERK was also linked to gender. Anxiety among residents was associated with age, education, occupation, and marital status. These findings highlight the need for improved public education on RRK and NERK, effective engagement strategies, and measures to address residents’ anxiety to enhance decision-making and social trust regarding nuclear safety.

Objective: Follow-up observation of radiation accident in which a worker developed acute radiation disease and eventually died of leukemia. The case provided key practical information for the study on clinical effects of radiation on the health of workers.Case Presentation: We observed and followed-up the progression and effect of radiation exposure at various stages in a 28-year-old male patient. We examined the chromosomal morphology, white blood cell count, and sperm count. Laboratory tests for leukemia diagnosis and other clinical parameters were performed.Results: After the patient was irradiated, the white blood cell level decreased, the sperm count dropped to 0, and the libido completely disappeared. The patient's chromosome aberration cell rate and total chromosome aberration cell rate were 7.33 and 7.66%, respectively. Examination of leukemia diagnostic experiments revealed that abnormal cells accounted for 60%; bone marrow examination showed that prolymphocytes abnormally proliferated, accounting for 89%, and had positive extracellular iron staining. After the initial treatment, the patient's white blood cell level increased and was finally maintained at a normal level, the sperm count returned to normal levels, and libido was restored. The patient died of acute lymphoblastic leukemia 34 years after the exposure.Conclusion: More attention has been paid to the long-term effects of ionizing radiation-induced malignant tumors. The occupational protection of radiographic inspection workers should be strengthened to reduce and avoid occupational injuries to protect the health and safety of workers.