FREE-RADICAL LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN SUBJEC TS WORKING IN AREAS RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT - ECOLOGICAL RISK IMPLICATIONS

Free-radical lipid perox dation in subjects working in areas radioacti vely comtaminated after the Chernobyl accident: ecological risk implic ations. A. M. Dyakova, L. I. Lyasko, G. N. Sushkevich, M. V. Poluektov a, T. V. Chirkova. Medical Radiological Research Center, Obninsk, Russ ia. Plasma lipids and antioxidant defense factors were examined 5-6 ye ars after the exposure in 49 subjects who had taken part in decontamin ation of the territories after the Chernobyl accident against those in non-exposed donors. Elevated levels of heptane-soluble lipoperoxides and of dienketones were registered, though malonic dialdehyde changed little. The above parameters deviated from the control level more in s ubjects exposed to higher ecological risk. In this group of examinees the antioxidant activity failed to neutralize lipoperoxide excess unde r low activity of plasma catalase. Antioxidant drugs are recommended t o manage disorders of lipoperoxide homeostasis in subjects exposed to radiation as a result of Chernobyl accident.