Study on High Natural Radiation Impacts to Peripheral Blood Cells in Population Living in Botteng Village, Mamuju, West Sulawesi

This study describes the long-term effects of low dose radiation to the hematopoietic parameters in the blood of
population living in Mamuju of West Sulawesi, an area which has high natural radiation. Peripheral bloodswere obtained
from community members of Botteng village, covering 70 people that consist of 35 women and 35 men as study group. For
control group the bloods were taken from areas with normal levels of exposure in the Keang village covering 23 populations
that consist of 13 women and 10 men. Age of both groups were ranging between 14-70 years. The blood components were measured by using the hematopoietic analyzer, the ABX Micros 60, located in Clinical Laboratory of PTKMR-BATAN
according to standard procedure. The results showed that the levels of haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocytes, leukocytes, absolute
lymphocytes, platelets, MCV, RDW, PDW, MPV, monocytes and granulocytes were not decreased significantly due to
radiation and were within normal limits and there is no significant difference between these two groups (p> 0.05). Other
components (HCT, MCH, MCHC, and MPV) showed normal data distribution and significantly different with that of control
(p <0.05) that may related to daily life style such as smoking and coffee consumption. It can be concluded that there is no
impact of exposure to high natural radiation in Mamuju, West Sulawesi to hematopoietic system.