FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION IN AREAS AFFECTED BY RADIATION AFTER THECHERNOBYL POWER-STATION ACCIDENT

This paper reports the results of a comprehensive survey of the effect s of the accidental release of radiation caused by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in April 1986. The accident and the r esulting release of radiation and radioactive products into the atmosp here produced the most serious environmental contamination so far reco rded. We have concentrated on evaluating the outcomes and health risks to women, their reproductive situation, and consequences for their pr ogeny. We have concentrated on two well-defined areas: the Chechersky district of the Gomel region in Belorussia and the Polessky district o f the Kiev region in the Ukraine. A number of investigations were carr ied out on 688 pregnant women and their babies, and data were obtained from 7000 labor histories of the development of newborns for a period of 8 years (3 years before the accident and 5 years after it). Parame ters examined included birth rate, thyroid pathology, extragenital pat hology such as anemias, renal disorders, hypertension, and abnormaliti es in the metabolism of fats, complications of gestation, spontaneous abortions, premature deliveries, perinatal morbidity and mortality, st illbirths and early neonatal mortality, infections and inflammatory di seases, neurological symptoms and hemic disturbances in both mothers a nd infants, trophic anomalies, and biochemical and structural changes in the placenta. Several exogenous, complicating influences were also considered such as psycho-emotional factors, stress, lifestyle changes , and others caused directly by the hazardous situation and by its con sequences such as treatment, removal from affected areas, etc. The res ults allow us to conclude that health of mothers, fetuses, and childre n were significantly influenced by the radiation, with adaptational an d pathological abnormalities of various organs and body systems of pre gnant women and children. Although the female reproductive system itse lf remains relatively intact, the decrease in compensatory-adaptive me chanisms of mothers and fetoplacental disorders cause long-term or chr onic diseases in the newborns. It is suggested that special attention is paid to possible prophylaxis and to treatment of groups at risk in order to reduce hazardous consequences of such accidents and to preser ve the health of future generations.