FREQUENCIES OF MICRONUCLEATED LYMPHOCYTES AND EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS CONTAMINATION IN ALTAI REGION RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR THE SEMIPALATINSK ATOMIC TESTING GROUND

We assessed the Frequencies of micronucleated lymphocytes in 3,036 ind ividuals living in 16 settlements in the western part of the Altai reg ion. The majority of individuals with significantly high Frequencies o f micronucleated lymphocytes were detected in settlements adjacent to the Semipalatinsk atomic testing ground (SATG). The most considerable genome instability was Found in individuals born in the period of inte nsive testing at the SATG (1949 to 1962). Moreover, we determined that the residents of the settlements adjacent to the SATG have significan tly high levels of antibodies to potentially oncogenic Epstein-Barr vi rus, in addition to high frequencies of micronucleated lymphocytes. Th e considerable Epstein-Barr virus contamination among the residents in the radiation-polluted zone around the SATG was supposed to be caused by immunodeficiency disorders in these individuals and was correlated with high frequencies of micronucleated cells. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, I nc.