Biomarkers of Radiation and Risk Assessment by Ionizing Radiation, Countermeasures for Radiation Protection of Environment, Workers and Public

Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics (IANP) is main responsible institution in country for managing of methodologies and techniques used for environmental/epidemiological samples collected for levels of radiation monitoring and radionuclide identification activities. In Albania, was well established the legal framework of legislation and regulations for using of radioactive materials: Law No. 8025, date 9.11.1995 "On Ionizing Radiation Protection", amended No. 9973, July 28th 2008. Also, the process of establishment of more laws, regulations, code of practices in radiology, nuclear medicine etc., started based on IAEA documents, elements of Joint Convention, as well as part of Interregional Projects & EU Directives, about all issues related to the policy issues for the application of biomarkers in the field of human health. Both types, of environmental and human body samples, are as indicators of biological markers, signaling events in biological systems and those are classifying into three types: [a] those of exposure, [b] biological effects, and [c] susceptibility. Once exposure has occurred, a continuum of biological events may to be detected. These events may serve as markers of the initial exposure, internal dose, biologically effective dose and some other parameters for evaluation of exposures. Even, before exposure occurs, there may be biological differences, between humans that cause some individuals to be more susceptible to environmentally induced disease. Biomarkers, therefore, are robust tools that can be used to clarify the relationship between ionizing exposure radiation & environment health impairment. The Institute studied in collaboration with Working Hygiene and Epidemiological Research Department in Institute of Public Health (IPH) in Albania, the effects of radiation caused by Chernobyl & Fukushima NPP accidents, carried out: radiation level monitoring, radionuclide identification activities, analyses of environmental human body laboratory samples to the individual workers and public exposed to radiation. Also, was assessed the ambient monitoring using chemical or physical analyses of food, air, water, soil etc., coupled with measurement for estimation of actual human intake at these areas, and by biomarkers of exposure was study the effects in body fluids such as: blood, urine, saliva, or some limited samples for reproductive and developmental systems, follicular fluids, cells, and semen. It is known, the thyroid cancers attributed to I-131 radioisotope exposure, as well as by other radionuclide's which have contaminated the environment, and for that reason it was important to evaluate patterns of excess absolute and relative risks by external/internal irradiation over time.