Genotoxic Consequences of Testicular Localization of Indium-114m

The incidence of childhood leukaemia in the offspring of workers at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant has been associated with preconception al paternal radiation exposure (Gardner et al., 1990). One possible causative factor for this effect may be that in addition to external radiation, workers may also be subject to internal radionuclide contamination. Local testicular exposure to radionuclides offers a route for increased potential for transmission of genetic damage via sperm, irradiated during their developmental stages, which could be a contributory factor to childhood leukaemogenesis.