ABSTRACT
The results of the long term work of the Russian Scientific Centre of Roentgenology and Radiology on me- dical investigation of the participants in the liquidation of the consequences of Chernobyl power plant acci- dent have been summarized. It has been stated that circulatory system and tumor diseases occupy the leading position in the disease rate among the affected liquidators. The important role of cytogenetic investigation was pointed out. It allows us not only to determine the efficient impact on the human body but also to evaluate the effective dose of radiation, the information about which allows us to predict the development of distant post-irradiation pathology. The results of cytogenetic investigations testify to the interrelation between the level of chromosomal abnormalities and cardiovascular diseases and confirm the clinical data on the non- neoplastic.pathology among the liquidators of the accident.
Subject(s)
Chernobyl Nuclear Accident , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/prevention & control , Occupational Exposure/prevention & control , Radiation Injuries/prevention & control , Cardiovascular Abnormalities/epidemiology , Cardiovascular Abnormalities/etiology , Cardiovascular Abnormalities/pathology , Cardiovascular Abnormalities/prevention & control , Chromosome Aberrations/radiation effects , Humans , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/epidemiology , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/genetics , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/pathology , Radiation Dosage , Radiation Injuries/epidemiology , Radiation Injuries/genetics , Radiation Injuries/pathology , Russia/epidemiology , Ukraine/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Data are presented on some of the engineers and scientists who regularly entered highly radioactive areas of the sarcophagus chamber constructed around the ruins of the Chernobyl reactor. Previous investigations on six of them by unstable chromosomal aberrations, quartz fibre electrometers and, in some cases, tooth electron spin resonance have all indicated high doses accumulated over several years of work inside the sarcophagus. Here, the authors present the data on eleven of the men who agreed to be monitored cytogenetically although two have since died aged 45 and 66 y. The present data were combined with the previous to examine the time-courses of these individuals' changes in their aberration frequencies. As expected, dicentric aberrations showed a clear drop down to 2-3 per 100 cells since the men ceased working inside the sarcophagus. In contrast, the translocation yields remained at a high level showing no tendency to decrease and so proved reliable for retrospective biodosimetry. These data are particularly useful in demonstrating the value of FISH long after high but protracted and fractionated exposure.