Objective To investigate the effects of low dose radiation on the level of oxidative damage and antioxidant in population of high background radiation area of Guangdong.Methods A total of 48 male residents who lived in high background radiation area(HBRA) of Guangdong province and 48 male residents who lived in neighboring Enping control area were chosen as the objectives and control respectively.The peripheral venous blood of two groups was collected,and then the levels of 8-OHdG and TrxR were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Compared with the CA group [(315.39 ± 100.59) ng/ml],the level of 8-OHdG [(272.64 ± 96.85) ng/ml] decreased significantly in HBRA (t =2.121,P ＜0.05).Compared with the CA group [(0.467 ±0.056) ng/ml],the level of TrxR [(0.496 ± 0.044) ng/ml] increased significantly in HBRA (t =-2.823,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the chronic exposure to low dose of radiation had significant effects on the expression level of 8-OHdG and TrxR (t =-2.327,2.367,P ＜ 0.05) after adjustment for confounding factors such as age,drinking,tea drinking,smoking,medical exposure and stressful events.Conclusions Chronic exposure to low dose radiation may decrease the level of oxidative and enhance the level of antioxidant.