As a result of the activities of the first Soviet plutonium production reactor, large territories of the Southern Urals were exposed to radioactive contamination. Three different incidents occurring between 1948 and 1967 lead to major exposure. A total of 280,000 people residing on the contaminated territories were exposed both to external and internal contamination particularly due to the long-lived radionuclides ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr. The highest doses were received by 28,000 people living on the Techa riverside villages. In the present paper 15 presumably exposed children coming from the Muslyumovo village on the Techa river have been analyzed using conventional cytogenetic procedure in order to assess a radiation-induced damage. The data obtained have been compared to a group of matched unexposed controls. The results show a statistical difference between the two cohorts which suggests a possible residual contamination representing a continuous hazard for the new generations.

Cited By (since 1996): 5Export Date: 26 August 2010Source: Scopus