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COMBINED EFFECT OF WORK-RELATED RADIATION, TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ACE ON CATARACT DEVELOPMENT IN LIQUIDATORS OF THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

COMBINED EFFECT OF WORK-RELATED RADIATION, TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ACE ON CATARACT DEVELOPMENT IN LIQUIDATORS OF THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2008.03.010

Vitte P.

COMBINED EFFECT OF WORK-RELATED RADIATION, TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ACE ON CATARACT DEVELOPMENT IN LIQUIDATORS OF THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

SI «Institute for Occupational Health» of AMS of Ukraine

Full article part 1 (PDF), UKR Full article part 2 (PDF), UKR


The subject of this epidemiological study is to study the prevalence and incidence of new cases of radiation cataract devel¬opment in the cohort of 9481 liquidators of consequences of the Chernobyl accident, exposed to chemical substances, in which the individual radiation dose has been established. Although the cohort is far larger we have limited our analyses to the subjects, examined twice, and who is extensively examined epidemiologically and ophthalmologically. The analysis of the questionnaire data showed that the existing hypothesis of the radiation risk for the organ of vision is based on erroneous prerequisites. In the hypothesis it is supposed that radiogenic cataracts should not be develop at the dose of 2000 mSv (2,0 Sv). So, the cataract is considered, by its nature, as an event determined by this threshold of the radiation exposure. The results of our study allowed to reveal absolutely another data. The work-related radiation doses below 100 mSv, occurred no less than 12 years after the incident, show significantly the availability of cases of cataract development. The effect of age and toxic substances, affected the liquidators in the processes of their occupational activity, were also studied. We tried to reveal a probable synergistic or antagonistic effect of these factors in relation to the effects, caused by ionizing radiation. The epidemiological study of the effect of exogenous chemical factors showed the availability of synergism of their exposure to the radiation factor. There is a number occupational exogenous factors, including those of life style, which require more intensive further investigation.

Key words: epidemiology, cataract, liquidator of the Chernobyl accident, dose of occupational radiation exposure, age factor, toxic substances, work conditions

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