LATE CYTOGENETIC EFFECTS OF THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT IN CHILDREN

The frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes (FME) has been studied in people affected by the Chernobyl accident. The study included four gr oups. Group 1 consisted of 54 children evacuated from areas contaminat ed with radionuclides after the Chernobyl accident. Group 2 consisted of 53 children residing in the town named Sosnovy Bor (St. Petersburg region). Group 3 consisted of 41 children residing permanently in St. Petersburg. Groups 2 and 3 were considered as controls for group 1. Gr oup 4 consisted of 51 adult men-liquidators of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. The mean FME in children of group 1 was significa ntly higher than in both group 2 and group 3 (p < 0,05, Mann-Whitney t est). The individual variability of FME was also increased in this gro up compared with the control group. The FME in the liquidators' blood (group 4) seems to be lower than in exposed children (group 1). Thus, the results of the present study have demonstrated an increased freque ncy of chromosome aberrations in the bone marrow erythropoietic cells late after irradiation exposure due to the Chernobyl accident.