The state of health of Chernobyl NPP accident liquidators

After Chernobyl NPP accident more than 3000 liquidators from Armenia suffered after effects. Since 1986 the Radiation Medicine Institute has conducted follow-up observations on more than 2000 of them. Pathologies of the nervous system are the most prominent. A marked number of patients presented with chronic non-specific lung disease and inflammatory conditions of the alimentary canal. Thyroid hormone analysis has shown that during the first year triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyropine levels of the liquidators have increased significantly, and continued to do so. Later, the two former declined but the thyrotropine level remained significantly high. Decrease in peripheral blood neutrophiles phagocyte activity has revealed cellular type immunodeficiency including decrease in blood serum complement activity and lowered resistance to infection. Lymphocyte chromosomal analysis revealed considerably increased levels of aberrations and there were defects in spermatogenesis. In the liquidators a clastogenic factor in serum led to aberration levels 2-5 times higher than in controls. The new antioxidant Tanakan was tested on volunteer liquidators and proved useful. The gradual transition from functional to organ pathology, in parallel with clastogenic factors, chromosomal aberrations and spermatogenesis defects requires long-term monitoring and new preventative and medicinal remedies. (Author)