INCIDENCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL ABNORMALITIES AMONG HUMAN FETUSES IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF BELORUSSIA AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

The incidence of developmental abnormalities (DA) among 5 to 12-week h uman embryos collected in Minsk during abortions before the Chernobyl' accident was compared to that in Minsk, Mogilev, and southeastern dis tricts of Gomel' and Mogilev oblasts before and after the accident. Th e incidence of DA among human embryos from the most radionuclide-conta minated rural regions of Belarus exceeds that of the control group and of the urban population after the Chernobyl' accident by a factor of 1.5-2. The mutagenic effect of irradiation is the most probable cause of the increased DA frequency. These data suggest that recording of DA in embryos obtained by medical abortions is a new promising approach to the monitoring of genetic consequences of irradiation in human popu lations.