[The immunological reactivity of children living under conditions of the action of low doses of ionizing radiation and of industrial waste]. / Imunolohichna reaktyvnist' u ditei, iaki prozhyvaiut' v umovakh diï malykh doz ionizuiuchoho vyprominiuvannia ta promyslovykh vykydiv.

We undertook the present studies to gain insights into the immunological reactivity of children exposed to small doses of ionizing radiation and salts of heavy metals. A total of 1500 children were examined who live in Sumy Province areas affected by varying levels of radioactive contamination. Increased morbidity, with thyroid hyperplasia being noted more often than not, has come to be recorded among children residing in the territories contaminated with discharges of salts of heavy metals and small doses of ionizing radiation. Imbalance of the thyroid and immune systems has been disclosed. The degree of immunological disorders was found to be related to specificities of activity of the hypophysis-and-thyroid system. Those children who are permanent residents in health-hazard localities exhibit a significant rise in blood level of interferones. Doing away with thyroid insufficiency will, we believe, help in returning the immune disorders in children to normal.