Monitoring of Chromosome Aberrations As Bioindicators in Assessment of Radiation Risk for the People and Ecological Health. Igor I. Suskov, M.D., Ph.D., and Vladimir A. Shevchenko, Ph.D, Prof., N. I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, telephone +7 095 135 12 89, fax +7 095 135 12 89, +7 095 132 89 62, e-mail postmast@iogen.msk.su <mailto:postmast@iogen.msk.su>; and Nicolai N. Ilyinskikh, Ph.D., Prof., Siberian Med. Univ., Tomsk, Russia., 3 Gubkin st., Moscow, 117809, Russia
The transparency in decision making concerning problems of radioactive waste, weapon plutonium and accident radio-nuclide pollution demands an objective assessment of the radiation risk for people and ecological health.
Long-term cytogenetic monitoring of nuclear and chemical plant workers, local human populations of radioactive waste areas and radio nuclide polluted territories has revealed that the level and spectrum of induced chromosome aberrations (structural damages of the cell genetic apparatus) in blood lymphocytes correlate with the type, dose and duration of exposure.
A high level of aberrations in the chromosomal spectrum was observed in many men after single (accidental) and multiple (cleanup following Chernobyl explosion) external exposure to g- or g-/ n_ -radiations.
Increased levels of aberrations in the chromosomal spectrum and rare multiaberrant cells were observed after long-term/chronic mixed external/internal exposure to low doses of g-/b-/a_ -radiation by radio nuclides (inhabitans of Chernobyl polluted regions, Altai territories with radioactive fallout in result of nuclear explosions at the Semi-palatinsk test-ground and radiactive waste areas near by Chelyabinsk and Tomsk atomic enterprises).
An increased level of aberrations in the chromatid spectrum was observed upon a long-term occupational contact with synthetic resins (polyvinylchloride, epoxy and phenolformaldehyde) and their monomers (workers of Vladimir resin plants).
There is very strong evidence that the yield of chromosome aberrations (Y) is related to the dose (D) by the equation:
Y = A0 +aD +bD2.
Therefore the radiation risk ( R(D) ) will correspond to:
Y * A0
R(D)= .
a + 2b
Increased levels of chromosome aberrations in the human body very often precede the development of several syndromes: chronic fatigue, secondary immune deficiency, early aging, oncology and etc.
Thus, induced chromosome aberrations in blood lymphocytes are objective bio indicators in assessment of the radiation risk for the health of people.
The above mentioned confirms the necessity of creating a European network for ecological-genetic monitoring with "Internet" translation of information on radio nuclide composition and chromosome aberration levels in people, inhabiting polluted areas.
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