Molecular Genetic Studies of Radiation-exposed Human Population of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Abstract In the Republic of Kazakhstan, during the period between 1949 and 1989, nuclear weapon testing carried out by the former Soviet Union at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (STS) resulted in local fallout affecting the residents of East Kazakhstan. The STS has been the site for more than 450 nuclear tests, including 26 on the ground and 87 atmospheric explosions. It is estimated that there are about 500,000 A-bomb victims around STS. These individuals have been repeatedly exposed to ionizing radiation from the radioactive cloud or environmental fallout for many years. To gain insight into the health concerns of the exposed population, we carried out a molecular genetic study to estimate health risk in a three-generation (Р0,F1,F2) sample from the STS population. We previously reported a 1.8-fold increase in minisatellite mutation (MM) rate in the exposed Р0 generation. Our results indicated that the radiation exposure from the nuclear tests had caused elevated MM rates and germ-line mutations. Al...