ESTIMATE OF HAPTOGLOBIN GENOTYPE DISTRIBU TION AMONG INDIVIDUALS SUBJECTED TO CHRONIC OCCUPATIONAL IRRADIATION IN SIGNIFICANT DOSES

Haptoglobin (Hp) genotype distribution was studied on 508 individuals from 52 to 78 years of age exposed 35 - 40 years ago to occupational c hronic irradiation at doses considerably exceeding the maximally allow able level. Essential and noncoinciding changes in Hp genotype distrib ution were found among individuals who were exposed to total doses of external chi-irradiation exceeding 500 cGy or with 239-Pu incorporatio n exceeding 7.4 kBq. Irradiation-induced changes differed from age-dep endent shifts in genotype distribution. It was suggested that variatio n of mortality from malignancies among individuals with different Hp g enotypes might be the cause of these changes.