CHILD AND ADULT MORRBIDITY IN THE BRYANSK REGION BY THE LEVEL OF RADIATOACTIVE, CHEMICAL AND COMBINED CONTAMINATION: AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess associations between the levels of radioactive, chemical and combined pollution in the Bryansk Region and al-cause child and adult morbidity over a ten-year period from 2008 to 2017. Methods: The density of radioactive contamination of territories by Cesium-137 (137Cs) and Strontium-90 (90Sr) due to the Chernobyl accident was estimated as well as the average annual effective radiation doses of the population and chemical pollution. The main pollutants contaminating the atmospheric air were found: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Number of gross emissions of gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere was recalculated per area of the region. The primary morbidity of child and adult population was analyzed according to all classes of diseases. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using Shapiro - Wilk, Mann - Whitney tests and Spearman correlation coefficients. The data were obtained from Bryanskstat, Rostekhnadzor and Rospotrebnadzor. Results: Four groups of territories of the Bryansk region were constructed according to the levels of radiation, chemical and combined contamination. Child morbidity on the territories of combined pollution exceeds child morbidity on the territories of chemical and radioactive pollution by 34 and 11 % (1 660 vs. 1 235 and 1 501 per 1 000 population). A correlation analysis of the relationship between child morbidity and the level of radiation and chemical pollution revealed a statistically significant correlation with atmospheric air pollution by carbon monoxide (р = 0,42, p = 0,02) and higher and more significant correlations with the levels of radioactive contamination with 137Cs and 90Sr both in children (р = 0,64, p = 0,001 for 137Cs and р = 0,66, p = 0,001 for 90Sr), and in adults (р = 0,50, p = 0,005 for 137Cs and р = 0,48, p = 0,007 for 90Sr). Conclusions: Positive significant associations were observed between the levels of radioactive, chemical and combined pollution and child morbidity in the Bryansk region.