HEMATOLOGICAL AND CYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING- TESTS OF BLOOD FROM 906 CHILDREN LIVING IN THE BRYANSK TERRITORY DIVERSELY CONTAMINATED WITH CS-137 AND SR-90

Populations of children living in the Bryansk territory (radionuclide contamination 0.2-63.9 Cu/km(2)) are characterized by heterogeneous bl ood counts, though relevant mean values are close to control. Mean cyt ochemical indices indicated a significant reduction in activity of poi nt nonspecific esterase (NSEP), a marker of mature T-cells, in childre n from all the contaminated districts. Shifts in cytochemical blood ly mphocytogram by NSEP test evidencing rejuvenascence of T-lymphocyte po ol were recorded in 12-33% of children from different villages. A 10% decrease in NSEP suggested poor adaptation and feasibility of immunode ficiency. In one-third of children with low NSEP the number of lymphoc ytes with large-granular PAS reaction may reflect uneffective B-lympho poiesis in these children. In two villages significantly contaminated with Cs-137 and Sr-90 half of the children had blood hemoglobin above 150 g/l. Children from three villages exhibited a sharp rise in the nu mber of lymphocytes with intensive-granular PAS reaction. These change s may be relate to thyroid abnormalities. The number of children at ri sk of health deterioration grows with growing environmental contaminat ion with Cs-137.