Post-accident Period Research Articles

Brain signatures of catastrophic events: Emotion, salience, and cognitive control.

Anticipatory brain activity makes it possible to predict the occurrence of expected situations. However, events such as traffic accidents are statistically unpredictable and can generate catastrophic consequences. This study investigates the brain activity and effective connectivity associated with anticipating and processing such unexpected, unavoidable accidents. We asked 161 participants to ride a motorcycle simulator while recording their electroencephalographic activity. Of these, 90 participants experienced at least one accident while driving. We conducted both within-subjects and between-subjects comparisons. During the pre-accident period, the right inferior parietal lobe (IPL), left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and right insula showed higher activity in the accident condition. In the post-accident period, the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, right IPL, bilateral ACC, and middle and superior frontal gyrus also showed increased activity in the accident condition. We observed greater effective connectivity within the nodes of the limbic network (LN) and between the nodes of the attentional networks in the pre-accident period. In the post-accident period, we also observed greater effective connectivity between networks, from the ventral attention network (VAN) to the somatomotor network and from nodes in the visual network, VAN, and default mode network to nodes in the frontoparietal network, LN, and attentional networks. This suggests that activating salience-related processes and emotional processing allows the anticipation of accidents. Once an accident has occurred, integration and valuation of the new information takes place, and control processes are initiated to adapt behavior to the new demands of the environment.

Захворюваність на непухлинні хвороби системи кровообігу в осіб, евакуйованих з 30-кілометрової Чорнобильської зони відчуження, у післяаварійний період: ефект малих доз радіації

Захворюваність на непухлинні хвороби системи кровообігу в осіб, евакуйованих з 30-кілометрової Чорнобильської зони відчуження, у післяаварійний період: ефект малих доз радіації

From crisis to recovery: scientific endeavors of the Institute of Agroecology and Environmental Management of the NAAS of Ukraine in minimizing the consequences of the Chornobyl accident

The participation of scientists from the Institute of Agroecology and Nature Management of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine in mitigating and minimizing the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster during 1986–2024 is elucidated. It is demonstrated that the history of the development of radioecological research at the Institute originates from the early days following the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. Actually, from this time onwards, the monitoring of radiation in agricultural lands affected by accidents has begun. One of the most crucial directions of work during this period was conducting of aerial and ground radiation reconnaissance. Active efforts were made in radioecological monitoring and dosimetric control of the population. The radioactive contamination of the territory was analyzed based on landscape, basin, and landscape-geochemical principles, upon which maps of radiation contamination of the territory for 137Cs, 90Sr, and 94Pu were compiled. During the remote period of Chornobyl disaster aftermath, the team of the unit was engaged in developing countermeasures for various types of economic activities in conditions of radioactive contamination, taking into account modern trends in the development of the natural-economic complex and new economic conditions based on landscape-ecological approach. Analysis of the results of scientific activities of the institution’s staff indicates that during the post-accident period, the team of radioecologists gathered and systematized significant volumes of information, which were transformed into various databases, cartographic materials, mathematical models, methodological recommendations, regulations, drafts of normative documents, and so forth. Information was provided on the contribution of the Institute’s employees to the development of radioecology, restoration of agricultural production on radioactively contaminated lands, and rehabilitation of territories affected by the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. Furthermore, contemporary radioecological problems and threats posed by the full-scale military aggression of Russia against Ukraine were outlined, including its violation of all seven principles of radiation safety, as well as potential radiation-related hazards in the future.

Смертність через провідні непухлинні хвороби учасників ліквідації наслідків аварії на ЧАЕС та мешканців радіоактивно забруднених територій у віддаленому періоді після аварії

The purpose of the study: Based on a descriptive analysis, to determine the post-accident changes in the level and structure of mortality of participants in the chornobyl cleanup workers of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ULNA) and residents of RADIATION- contaminated TERRITORIES )residents of the RZT) of Ukraine from the main non-neoplastic diseases depending on age, time since the date of the accident and gender. Materials and methods: Mortality from non-neoplastic pathology in 1986-1987 in ULNA, numbering 64,762, and residents of RZT, numbering 174,860, aged 18-60 on the date of the accident as a result of the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, was studied based on clinical-epidemiological and dose data of the State Register of Ukraine. Epidemiological, medical-statistical, analytical methods were used during the research. Research results: On the basis of descriptive analysis, a description of the level and structure of mortality from non-neoplastic diseases of the ULNA and the residents of the RZT was provided, both for the entire post-accident period and for five-year periods. In ULNA, mortality increased with each five-year period and in recent years has increased by 15.7 times compared to the initial period. In residents of the radioactively contaminated territory of Ukraine, the mortality rate increased for 25 years after the accident, with the highest rate in the period 2008-2012, regardless of age, with subsequent stabilization of the indicators. The structure of mortality among participants of the ULNA and residents of the RZT throughout the entire observation period remains unchanged and almost does not differ from the general mortality trends of the population of Ukraine. Diseases of the circulatory system, digestive organs, and respiratory organs are stable in terms of the frequency of the causes of death. Age, sex, and temporal differentiation of mortality, differences in nosological causes among defined categories of victims of the consequences of the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant were revealed. Conclusions: During the post-accident observation period (1988-2017), diseases of the circulatory system, digestive organs, and respiratory organs remained the main causes of mortality in ULNA in and among residents of RZT aged 18–60 on the date of the Chornobyl accident. The dynamics of mortality in ULNA was characterized by growth during the entire period of observation, in residents of RZT – growth over 25 years with subsequent stabilization. It is necessary to take into account during dispensation the revealed features of mortality of ULNA and RZT in order to develop comprehensive measures to reduce the mortality of this contingent.

Радиоэкологическая оценка реакторных установок на основе сценариев проектных и запроектных аварий

The methodical approach based on scenarios of design and beyond design basis accidents was developed for comparative radioecological assessment of reactor facilities. The dynamics of possible radiation doses to the thyroid and the whole body of the public resided nearby the Russian nuclear power plants equipped with the VVER-440, VVER-1000, VVER-1200 and BN-800 reactors was estimated. With the use of the conservative approach for each accident scenario, as well as with the use of acute and medium-term dose criteria, radiation exposure indices were calculated for each accident scenario. Reactor facilities are ranked according to an index summarizing the accident scenarios features and the probability of their realization, the height of radioactive emissions and the activity of dosage-forming radionuclides. The potential radioecological danger of Russian reactors to the population has been reduced. The lowest estimates of the summarized emergency risk are typical for the advanced VVER-1200 reactor of the 3+ generation and the fast neutron reactor BN-800. The most severe emergency scenarios for each considered reactor are highlighted. The VVER-440 reactor has the highest number of severe projected accidents exceeding the dosage criteria envisaging evacuation of the population. The directions of further research related to the analysis of the environmental radiological effects, the justification of radiation protection measures and the development of operational intervention levels in the acute post-accident period are outlined.

Flying Sensor and Edge Network-Based Advanced Air Mobility Systems: Reliability Analysis and Applications for Urban Monitoring

Typical structures of monitoring systems (MSs) that are used in urban complex objects (UCOs) (such as large industrial facilities, power facilities, and others) during the post-accident period are combined with the technologies of flying sensor networks (FSNets) and flying edge networks (FENets) (FSNets and FENets); cloud/fog computing and artificial intelligence are also developed. An FSNets and FENets-based MS, composed of one of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) systems classes, which comprise main and virtual crisis centers, fleets of flying sensors, edge nodes, and a ground control station, is presented and discussed. Reliability and survivability models of the MS for the UCOs, considering various operation conditions and options of redundancy, are developed and explored. A tool to support the research on MS reliability, survivability, and the choice of parameters is developed and described. Crucially, this paper enhances the technique for assessing systems using the multi-parametrical deterioration of characteristics as a class of multi-state systems. Problems that may arise when using FSNets/FENet-based AAM systems are discussed. The main research results comprise a structural basis, a set of models, and a tool for calculating the reliability and survivability of FSNets/FENet-based AAM systems, with various options for distributing the processing and control resources between components, their failure rates, and degradation scenarios.

Modelling of the Fate of 137Cs and 90Sr in the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Pond before and after the Water Level Drawdown

During the accident in April 1986, the Cooling Pond (CP) of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) was heavily contaminated by fuel particles and radionuclides of cesium-137 (137Cs) and strontium-90 (90Sr). Starting from the end of 2014, a gradual decrease of the CP water level began leading to the transformation of the whole reservoir into eight separate sectors and raising the concern of the fate of 137Cs and 90Sr in the future. In this study, two mathematical models were applied to reproduce radioactive contamination of the CP from 1986 to 2021 and to provide a forecast of 137Cs and 90Sr concentrations in the CP water from 2022 to 2030. The hydrodynamic model THREETOX provided three-dimensional (3D) currents in the CP corresponding to hydrological conditions before and after water level drawdown, and these currents were used in the box model POSEIDON-F for the long-term simulations of the changes in 137Cs and 90Sr concentrations in water, bottom sediments, and biota. Seasonal changes in the distribution coefficient (Kd) describing the partition of 137Cs between water and sediments were considered in the box model, which allowed us to reproduce the observed variations of concentration. Calculated concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in water and freshwater fish occupying different trophic levels agreed well with measurements for the entire post-accident period. After the water level drawdown, concentrations of 137Cs in the CP water slightly increased in all eight sectors, while 90Sr concentrations significantly increased in sectors close to ChNPP, which was explained by an additional 90Sr source when comparing the simulation results and measurement data. Using the model forecast from 2022 to 2030, we predict that the concentration of both radionuclides will gradually decrease in new water bodies of the Cooling Pond except in the northern sectors, where the suggested additional source of 90Sr will lead to a stabilization of 90Sr concentrations.

Is there Chornobyl nuclear accident signature in Scots pine radial growth and its climate sensitivity?

The extensive radioactive fallout resulting from the 1986 Chornobyl accident caused tree death near the nuclear power plant and perturbed trees communities throughout the whole Chornobyl exclusion zone. Thirty years into the post-accident period, the radiation continues to exert its fatal effects on the surviving trees. However, to what extent the continuous multi-decadal radiation exposure has affected the radial tree growth and its sensitivity to climate variation remains unascertained. In this comparative study, we measure the Scots pine radial growth and quantify its response to climate at two sites along the western track of the nuclear fallout that received significantly different doses of radiation in 1986. The common features of the two sites allow us to disentangle and intercompare the effects of sub-lethal and moderate radiation doses on the pine's growth and climatic sensitivity. We extend the response function analysis by making the first use of the Full-Duration at Half-Maximum FDHM method in dendrochronology and apply the double-moving window approach to detect the main patterns of the growth-to-climate relationships and their temporal evolution. The stand exposed to sub-lethal radiation shows a significant radial growth reduction in 1986 with a deflection period of one year. The stand exposed to moderate radiation, in contrast, demonstrates no significant decrease in growth either in 1986 or in the following years. Beyond the radiation effects, the moving response function and FDHM enabled us to detect several mutual patterns in the growth-to-climate relationships, which are seemingly unrelated to the nuclear accident. To advance our predictive understanding of the response of forest ecosystems to a massive radioactive contamination, future studies should include quantitative wood anatomy techniques.

Post-accident dynamics of flora and vegetation in the Belarusian sector exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

The issues of vegetation cover dynamics in the Chernobyl accident area considered in the article. The research carried out within the boundaries of the Polessky State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. The objects of research are the flora and vegetation of the region. The research is based on as classical methods for studying flora and vegetation, as modern ones, using a long-term archive of Landsat satellite imagery. The article interprets that the flora and vegetation transformation processes of the Chernobyl exclusion zone are mainly due to natural changes and anthropogenically stimulated processes associated with the economic activity cessation. The authors noted a progressive increase of the vascular plant species number within the Reserve, which explained by the restoration processes beginning of the vegetation cover after the population evacuation and the economic activity complete stopping. The spatial isolation of the Polessky State Radiation-Ecological Reserve territory led to the preservation of flora synanthropization level, similar to the end of the 1980s. Former settlements, wastelands, former arable lands, linear objects (roads) and other former anthropogenic habitats are the retention and penetration centers of synanthropic species within the Reserve. The forested territory increasing is a key moment of the vegetation demutational successions in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. A large increase of derived small-leaved forests participation characterizes the dynamics of the forest vegetation formational structure during the post-accident period. Indigenous coniferous and deciduous fen forests also tend to distribution increase, but their dynamics is not rapid. Forests formation, bushing, waterlogging due to the degradation of drainage systems are the processes of meadow dynamics. Fragments of unchanged meadows preserved only in the Pripyat River floodplain. Restoration of bog-forming processes observed on disturbed peatlands, part of unforested fens transformed into forested fens, sparse forests and shrub thickets in the post-accident period. The processes of forest formation, local swamping prevail on the former agricultural and residential lands.

STILLBIRTH RATE AND INFANT MORTALITY RATE: STUDY IN THE REGIONS OF UKRAINE MOST INTENSIVELY RADIOCONTAMINATED UPON THE CHORNOBYL NPP ACCIDENT.

to evaluate the time pattern peculiarities of stillbirth and infant mortality rates in the radiocontaminated territories of Ukraine in the post-accident period on the basis of the national State Statistics Service data. stillbirth and infant mortality rates of population of the most intensively radiocontaminated territories of Ukraine (Lughinskyi, Narodytskyi, Ovrutskyi and Olevskyi districts of Zhytomyrska oblast, Vyshgorodskyi, Ivankivskyi and Poliskyi districts of Kyivska oblast, Rokytnivskyi and Sarnenskyi districts of Rivnenska oblast, and Kozeletskyi and Rypkinskyi districts of Chernihivska oblast).Research materials and methods. Information resources of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine for 1986-2020 regarding the infant mortality and stillbirth rates were used in the study. Demographic, mathematical-statistical, graphical, and software-technological research methods were applies. Parameters of infant mortality and stillbirth rates for the 1986-2020 period were studied retrospectively. Significant variations in values were revealed both between the territories and years of survey.

STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHORNOBYL NPP ACCIDENT VICTIMS ACCORDING TO THE MATERIALS OF MEDICAL EXPERTISE OF THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP OF DISEASES WITH THE EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION IN THE REMOTE POSTACCIDENTAL PERIOD (2023 year).

To study and characterize the structure of the affected categories (clean-up workers and victims) of the Chornobyl catastrophe based on the materials of expert cases of the Central Interdepartmental Expert Commission of Ministry of Health of Ukraine (CIEC) in the remote post-accidental period (2013-2023). The work was performed in the design of a retrospective study that based on analysis of the structure of all categories of Chornobyl NPP accident (ChNPP) victims during 2008-2023 years and studying of more 57 000 medical expert cases, which were considered by CIEC during 2013-2022 to establish a causal relationship between the disease and influence of radiation exposure and other harmful factors and conditions during ChNPP accident. The total number of affected adult citizens as on 01.01.2023, compared to 2008, decreased by 511,877 persons, or by 27.90 % (from 1,834,536 to 1,322,659 persons). The number of clean-up workers of the accident decreased from 276,327 (2008) to 162,180 (2023), or by 114,147 people (41.30 %), that means - during the last 15 years, almost every third-second clean-up worker who participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident at the ChNPP died. The number of adult victims decreased from 1,558,209 in 2008 to 1,160,479 in 2023, or by 25.52 % (397,730 persons). In the structure of medical expert cases during 2013-2022 the leading place as the reason of disease, disability and death is occupied by oncological diseases - 60.3 %, cerebrovascular diseases and their complications make up 10.00 %, diseases of the cardiovascular system - 19.6 %. In the remote post-accidental period (2013-2023) has increased the need of expertise of the causal relationship of disability and the causes of death with the influence of the ChNPP accident consequences for medical and social support. During 2013-2023 period quick reducing for all categories of affected due to the Chornobyl NPP accident taken place. In the structure of medical expert cases during 2013-2023 the leading place as the reason of disease, disability and death is occupied by oncological, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Ischemic heart disease in the evacuated adult population as a cause of health loss in the long term after the Chernobyl accident. Results of epidemiological studies 1988-2016

Ischemic heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common diseases of the circulatory system, which is the main cause of death in Ukraine. The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence, disability, mortality from ischemic heart disease, its individual nosological forms in the adult population evacuated from the 30 km zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the post-accident period, taking into account the age at the date of the accident, sex and time after the accident for further improving the system of dispensary observation evacuees and reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications. The study used epidemiological surveillance data (1988-2016) for the category of the adult evacuated population (18-60 years old as of the date of the accident) with a population of 42 982 people, of which 58.7% are women according to the data of the State Register of Ukraine of persons injured in as a result of the Chernobyl disaster (GRU). The research results were assessed both in general for ischemic heart disease and the main nosological forms according to ICD-9 and ICD-10. In the study, epidemiological, analytical, mathematical and statistical methods were used, as well as the method of internal comparison (with indicators of 1988-1992). As the results of the study have shown, in the structure of the causes of morbidity, disability and mortality of the adult evacuated population from diseases of the circulatory system, IHD takes a leading place. The statistically significant influence of age, calendar observation period, gender was established. Among nosological forms, chronic CHD is in the lead. Evacuees at the age of 18–39 years show an increase in the incidence of coronary artery disease with a maximum rate after 17 years, and at the age of 40-60 years – at the beginning of the observation with a subsequent noticeable decrease since 2003. In recent years (2013-2016), there has been a significant decrease in the incidence of coronary artery disease at the age of 40-60 years by 9.3 times, and at the age of 18-39 years, on the contrary, an increase by 3.8 times. During the post-accident period, the level of disability and mortality of the studied contingents from ischemic heart disease has significantly increased. High rates of growth of disability in recent years in persons aged 18-39 at the date of the accident. The mortality rate of the evacuees in recent years has increased in comparison with the early observation period by 5.8 times, higher mortality rates in men compared to women. Further more in-depth studies are required to assess the contribution of non-cancer diseases to the total radiation damage to human health.

Биологическая доступность 137Cs и 90Sr в дерново-подзолистых почвах в отдаленный период аварии на Чернобыльской АЭС

The content of 137Cs and 90Sr forms in soddy-podzolic automorphic and gleyic soils of different textures (loamy, sandy loamy, sandy) was studied. It has been established that over a long post-accident period, the physical and chemical forms of 137Cs and 90Sr have been transformed in soils, and a dynamic balance has come in their content. 137Cs compounds have undergone non-exchange fixation, and their content in the form available to plants is currently an insignificant fraction -5-15 %. 90Sr compounds, on the contrary, are predominantly in easily accessible forms, which make up from 60 to 75 % in soddy-podzolic soils, 67 % on average. The transfer factor of 137Cs, depending on the granulometric composition of soils, decreased on average in grain crops by 3.0-6.7 times, in potato tubers - by 5.0-7.5 times. The parameters of 90Sr intake into plants decreased most intensively in the first 1-2 years after the accidental fallout, which was mainly due to the transformation of its water-soluble compounds into exchangeable forms, and over the past 30-36 years they have not practically decreased. Due to the high mobility of 90Sr in the soil, the transfer factor into agricultural crops are significantly higher compared to 137Cs - into grain crops by more than an order of magnitude, into potatoes - by an average of 5 times. Currently, the bioavailability parameters of 137Cs and 90Sr have stabilized and no significant changes are observed. Therefore, based on the current situation and the transfer coefficients of these radionuclides from soil to plants, it can be concluded that the main problems associated with obtaining standard clean crop products can occur on soils contaminated with 90Sr.

Ефекти малих доз іонізуючого випромінювання у розвитку захворюваності на хвороби органів травлення в осіб, евакуйованих iз 30-кілометрової зони ЧАЕС, протягом 1992-2016 років. Епідеміологічне спостереження

Objective: Epidemiological assessment of the risks of developing non-neoplastic diseases of the digestive organs in evacuees from the 30-kilometer zone of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in 1992–2016, analysis of the impact of ionizing radiation in small doses. Materials and methods: Epidemiological studies were conducted in a cohort of 4501 adults evacuated from the 30-kilometer zone of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, with the presence of reconstructed effective doses of external ionizing radiation in the range of 0.001 Sv ÷ 0.38 Sv. The total cohort of subjects was stratified into 2192 individuals with exposed doses in the range of 0.001 Sv ÷ 0.05 Sv (IG) (internal control) and 2.309 individuals with exposed doses in the range of 0.051 Sv ÷ 0.38 Sv (EG). Epidemiological indicators used are absolute risk (AR), relative risk (RR) with 95% (±CI) confidence intervals (changes in risk values at the level of significance (p<0.05), attributive risk (ATR). Calculations were made by the number of people-years at risk during the years of observation (diseases detected for the first time per 103 person-years) The effect (of diseases) per unit value of the factor (1 Sv) (dose-effect) was determined by the excesses of the relative risk (ERR, 95% CI) with a confidence interval and the attributive risk (ATR, %) with the percentage of exceeding the absolute risk in the studied EG compared to IG. Research results. As a result of epidemiological studies, the role of small doses of ionizing radiation in the formation of digestive tract pathology in adults which were evacuated from the 30-kilometer zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant during the post-accident period was revealed. A significant excess of absolute, attributive and relative risk indicators was determined in patients which were exposed to effective doses in the range of ˂ 0.051 Sv ÷ 0.38 Sv. The highest absolute risk indicators were found in the groups «Diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws» (K00-K14) and «diseases of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum» (K20-K31). Conclusions. Small doses of ionizing radiation have a special effect on the nature and intensity of the development of digestive organs’ pathologies in people, which were evacuated from the 30-kilometer zone of the Chоrnobyl nuclear power plant. However, in order to estimate the share of this pathology’s contribution to the overall morbidity, it is necessary to conduct additional studies.

ПОРІВНЯЛЬНА ОЦІНКА СТАНУ ЗАХВОРЮВАНОСТІ НА ХВОРОБИ СИСТЕМИ КРОВООБІГУ В УЧАСНИКІВ ЛІКВІДАЦІЇ НАСЛІДКІВ АВАРІЇ НА ЧАЕС ТА ЕВАКУЙОВАНОГО ДОРОСЛОГО НАСЕЛЕННЯ В ПІСЛЯАВАРІЙНИЙ ПЕРІОД

Comparative assessment of the circulatory system diseases in the recovery operation workers of the Chornobyl nuclear plant and evacuated adults in the post-accident period: ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.18, No 2, 2022https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2022.02.138 Comparative assessment of the circulatory system diseases in the recovery operation workers of the Chornobyl nuclear plant and evacuated adu

Психоемоційний стан мешканців радіоактивно забруднених територій України, народжених до і після аварії на Чорнобильській атомній електростанції

Objectiv. Determining the attitude of residents from radiation-contaminated areas (RCA) born before and after the Chernobyl accident to the state of their health, their social and environmental factors. Materials and methods. Analysis of the psycho-emotional state of RCA residents under the age of 18 on the date of the Chernobyl accident and those born in the post-accident period from 1987 to 1997 was conducted during their medical examination according to the program of Clinical and Epidemiological Register (CER) for adults (over 18 years). The study results of the state of psychosomatic health of RCA residents (1534 people born before the accident and 1010 people after the accident) for the post-accident period (1993-2016) were obtained during the survey. Results: The majority of RCA residents born before the Chernobyl accident said (75.75%) that they already had a disease before the Chernobyl accident. In the period after the accident, 81.01% of respondents in this group reported deterioration and a severe deterioration in health. Of this group, 40.86% of respondents attributed the loss of their health to the impact of negative factors, including: 26.78% - social and professional and only 14.08% - with the Chernobyl accident. A significant number (39.43%) had answers "other factors" or "I do not know". Living on RCA as a factor in the development of anxiety, emotional tension, deteriorating health of the residents, their relatives, children, grandchildren now and in the future, indicated only 24, 57% of respondents and 21.99% of residents did not think that this factor affects the deterioration of their health. Among the measures that can prevent the deterioration of psychosomatic health, 44.45% of residents born before the accident considered effective - medical measures (regular inpatient and spa treatment, diet, physical therapy). The majority of residents born after the accident (62.64%) rated their current health status as "excellent" and "good". Some respondents (33.59%) indicated satisfactory health and 3.79% - poor health (against 60.10% and 26.86%, respectively, among those born before the accident). More than a half of those born after the accident said that living on RCA "does not affect" their health. Among the social measures that can improve health and prevent the development of diseases, half of respondents (50.0%) noted long vacations and physical activities, sports. Almost half of the residents in both groups did not know or pointed to other medical and social measures to restore and maintain their health.

Захворюваність на злоякісні новоутворення населення України у віддаленому періоді після аварії на ЧАЕС

There is performed a study of cancer incidence in the population affected by the Chornobyl accident. Analysis of demography situation has shown that unlike Western European countries with increasing life expectancy this index was notably decreased in Ukraine in 2005–2006 with slow growth during 2006–2019. Certainly this circumstance may influence on cancer incidence rate because the highest risk of malignant tumours is just in elderly age. Goal: to determine the frequency and risk of malignant neoplasms in groups of the population of Ukraine that were exposed to radiation as a result of the Chоrnobyl accident in the remote post-accident period. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of long-term monitoring of malignant tumours in the groups of victims – clean-up workers of 1986–1987, evacuees from the exclusion zone, residents of the territories most heavily contaminated with radionuclides. Results. There was a significant excess of the expected level of incidence of thyroid cancer among the participants in liquidation of the accident consequences (PLAC) - 4.5 times, evacuees - 3.8 times, residents of territories contaminated with radionuclides - 1.3 times. Leukaemia and lymphoma incidence rate in residents of contaminated territories increased sharply in the first years after the accident but decreased in the next years and not exceeded the level if Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions and Ukraine at whole. In a joint Ukrainian-American analytical epidemiological case-control study dose dependent excess relative risk of leukaemia (ERR/Gy) was proved in clean-up workers and defined at level 2.38 (0.49–5.87) in 1986–2006. A significant excess of the national level of incidence of breast cancer was determined only in women - PLAC in 1986–1987. In 1994–2019 SIR was 156.3% (95% CI: 141.0–171.5). Conclusions. Because latency period for different forms of radiation related malignancies might be very long further special attention should be paid not only to nosological forms mentioned above but also to cancers of the other sites.

RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES OF CHERNIHIVSKA OBLAST OF UKRAINE: THE RADIATION-ECOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL-DEMOGRAPHIC PAST AND PRESENT.

to determine the current radiationecological and medicaldemographic parameters of the territories of Chernihivska oblast of Ukraine, which were recognized as radioactively contaminated as a result of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident, and to assess their changes in the postaccident period. The parameters of contamination of natural environments (soil, food products), both with number, structure, natural and migratory movement of population of radioactively contaminated territories of Chernihivska oblast of Ukraine (Kozeletskyi, Koriukivskyi, NovhorodSiverskyi, Ripkynskyi, Semenivskyi, Sosnytskyi, and Chernihivskyi districts) were the study objects. Data from the Chernihiv Regional Office of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine,Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, and CentralEnvironmental Dosimetry Register of the State Institution «National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine» were used. General scientific, mathematicalstatistical, graphic, cartographic, and softwaretechnological research methods are applied. After the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant the largescale radioecological monitoring was conducted on the territory of Chernihivska oblast, where a significant improvement in the state of radioactively contaminated areas had been observed. The number of settlements where the soil contamination density with cesium isotopes exceeded the lower limit for the zone of guaranteed voluntary resettlement (185 kBq*m2) has decreased from 8 to 1. The average regional concentration of 137Cs in milk mostly did not exceed 50 Bq*l1. The average concentration of 137Cs in potatoes from private households over the entire observation period was 5-10 times lower than in milk. Analysis of medical and demographic data allowed concluding that the districts of Chernihivska oblast, which were most intensively contaminated after the Chornobyl accident, feature now some regional problems. There are trends towards population decline and birth rate decrease along with increase in mortality. The most intensive changes had occurred in Kozeletskyi and Ripkynskyi districts, where destructive processes in the age structure of population and a stable trend of increase of mortality rates were revealed. Research should be continued.

MEDICAL EXPERTISE FOR ESTABLISH CAUSATION OF DISEASE, LEADING TO LOSS OF HEALTH, DISABILITY AND DEATH WITH THE ACTION OF IONIZING RADIATION AND OTHER HARMFUL FACTORS OF THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT IN THE REMOTE POST-ACCIDENTAL PERIOD (2013-2022).

To study and characterize the structure of the affected categories (clean-up workers and victims) of the Chernobyl Catastrophe based on the materials of expert cases of the Central Interdepartmental Expert Commission (CMEC) in the remote post-accidental period (2013-2022). The work was performed in the design of a retrospective study that based on studying of 50,974 expert cases, which were considered by CIEC during 2013-2022 to establish a causal relationship between the disease and influence of radiation exposure and other harmful factors and conditions during ChNPP accident using a systematic analytical approach to assessing the medical and nonmedical parameters presented in medical expert documentation. The total number of affected adult citizens as on 01.01.2022, compared to 2008, decreased by 477,953 persons, or by 26.05 % (from 1,834,536 to 1,354,746 persons). The number of clean-up workers of the accident decreased from 276,327 (2013) to 171,725 (2022), or by 104,602 people (37.85 %), that means - during the last 10 years, almost every third clean-up worker who participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl NPP died. The number of adult victims decreased from 1,558,209 in 2008 to 1,183,021 in 2022, or by 24.08 % (375,188 persons). The average annual reduction in the absolute number of clean-up workers of ChNPP accident during 2013-2022 is about 7,770 people per year (9,424 during 2021), adult victims - 27,045 people per year (28,922 during 2021). In the structure of medical expert cases during 2013-2022 the leading place as the reason of disease, disability and death is occupied by oncological diseases - 52.72 %, cerebrovascular diseases and their complications make up 17.08 %, diseases of the cardiovascular system - 19.6 %. In the remote post-accidental period (2013-2022) has increased the need of expertise of the causal relationship of disability and the causes of death with the influence of the Chornobyl NPP accident consequences for medical and social support. During 2013-2022 period quick reducing for all categories of affected due to the Chornobyl NPP accident taken place. In the structure of medical expert cases during 2013-2022 the leading place as the reason of disease, disability and death is occupied by oncological diseases.

Analysis of clinical and functional characteristics of COPD and comorbid pathology in clean-up workers of Chornobyl NPP accident in a remote post-accident period

Analysis of clinical and functional characteristics of COPD and comorbid pathology in clean-up workers of Chornobyl NPP accident in a remote post-accident period