During almost 40 years of use, the micronucleus assay (MN) has become one of the most popular methods to assess genotoxicity of different chemical and physical factors, including ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage. In this minireview, we focus on the position of MN among the other genotoxicity tests, its usefulness in different applications and visibility by international organizations, such as International Atomic Energy Agency, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Organization for Standardization. In addition, the mechanism of micronuclei formation is discussed. Finally, foreseen directions of the MN development are pointed, such as automation, buccal cells MN and chromothripsis phenomenon.

The presented studies deal with an assessment of the possibility of uranium recovery from the low-grade uranium resources in Poland. Uranium was leached from the ground uranium ores with efficiencies in 81–100% range that depend on the type of ore and leaching solution used. In the next step, the post-leaching solution was treated by the solvent extraction or ion exchange chromatography to separate uranium from other metals present in the ore. The novel routes of leaching by using membrane methods were examined. The final product, “yellow cake,” was obtained in precipitation step. The studies of precipitation of uranium as ammonium diuranate or uranium peroxide from diluted uranium solutions are presented in this chapter. The work was completed with tentative economic analysis and environmental impact assessment along with radiation protection issues connected to uranium production.

A report is presented on the advantages of the rapid interphase chromosome assay (RICA) and the difficulties that may be met while implementing this method for application in biological dosimetry. The RICA test can be applied on unstimulated human lymphocytes; this is an advantage in comparison with the dicentric chromosomes or micronucleus tests. In the former two tests, stimulated lymphocytes are examined and hence, 48 h more are needed to obtain cells traversing the cell cycle. Due to the use of unstimulated nondividing cells, higher numbers of cells are available for RICA analysis than for dicentric chromosomes or micronuclei tests. Moreover, the method can be applied after exposure to ionizing radiation doses in excess of 5 Gy. Such doses cause a significant cell cycle delay or result in the loss of G2 phase and mitotic cells because of apoptosis. Therefore, the traditional biodosimetry based on the evaluation of the incidence of damage to chromosomes is very difficult to carry out. This is due to the lack of an adequate number of mitotic cells for analysis. RICA is free of this disadvantage. An automatic microscope can be used to retrieve cell images; automatic image analysis can also be used.

Due to the advanced plans for the development of nuclear power plants in Poland, those who are to live around nuclear facilities may have unjustified doubts about their own radiation safety. Moreover, when future power plant workers will be potentially exposed to low, cumulative doses of ionizing radiation, it seems important to develop cytogenetic methods for showing the actual genotoxic effects of environmental or occupational nuclear influences. The method of analyzing the frequency of chromosomal type aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes remains one of the most significant possibilities in achieving this goal. Three techniques are used to monitor aberration frequency, i.e., most commonly, Giemsa staining (FPG), FISH, or M-FISH. The types of aberrations determined by Giemsa-staining preparation will be described in detail, and issues with the nomenclature of these aberrations will be discussed. To effectively explore small changes in aberration yields, studies of aberration rates in non-exposed populations are needed. Such a dataset has been generated at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (INCT), Warsaw, Poland. This database would allow for the assessment of the genotoxic impact of planned nuclear facilities, the impact of radon in areas within its increased concentration, or the impact of such a working environment on, for example, medical workers working with radiation.