The effect of gamma ray on total leukocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils on blood samples of smokers compared to non-smoker donors

Background: The immune system depends on white blood cells (WBCs) to fight infections in the human body. Smoking tobacco causes the increasing of WBCs comparing with nonsmokers due to virus infection and bronchitis. Exposing blood samples of smokers and non-smokers donors to gamma-ray (γ-ray) will affect the structure of the WBCs then as a result will cause the declination in the values of total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in the smokers' blood is greater than of nonsmokers and this confirms that these cells are more fragile, weak, and less tolerant to external stimuli. Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the effects of increasing doses of γ-ray on total leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte count between smokers and non-smokers. Materials and Methods: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples were collected from healthy donors: Ten smokers and ten nonsmokers. Samples of both groups were exposed to incremental doses of γ-ray (5–40 Gy). Total and differential leukocyte count for each sample was performed by autoanalyzer. Results: Smokers had higher average total leukocyte, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts than nonsmokers before exposure to radiation. However, they showed more decline than nonsmokers after exposure to increasing doses of γ-ray. Conclusions: By increases the doses of γ-ray, the declining in the values of WBCs, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in the smokers blood is greater than of nonsmokers and this confirms that these cells are more fragile, weak, and less tolerant to external stimuli