Search

Liquidators of Chernobyl power accident consiquences were subjected to simultaneous external gamma-beta radiation and inhalation of particles containing radionuclides aerosols, nonradiation toxic chemicals and dust. Typical defects of medical examination of liquidators were seen: sending people with pulmonary diseases to post-accident work, erroneous interpretation of the disease severity with underestimation of previous occupational history and nonradiation factors deteriorating the case.

Liquidators of chernobyl accident consequences were subjected to simultaneous external gamma-beta-radiation and inhalation of particles containing radionuclide aerosols and nonradiation toxic chemicals. findings are typical defects of the liquidators examination: assignment of individuals with pulmonary disorders to post-accident work, misinterpretation of the disease severity with underestimation of previous occupational anamnesis and aggravating role of nonradiation.

Aim: To characterize clinical symptoms of chronic bronchitis (CB) in Chernobyl wreckers., Material and Methods: 71 CB male Chernobyl wreckers exposed to low-dose radiation and 43 control patients were examined and treated in a specialized hospital in 1988-1996. Clinical features of CB were investigated by clinical (complaints, history, objective examination), laboratory (total blood count, biochemical and immunological blood picture, coagulogram) and instrumental (fibrobronchoscopy, x-ray, radiometry, spirography) findings with further statistical processing., Results: Chernobyl wreckers more frequently had neurocirculatory asthenia and hemoptysis. The latter was caused by bronchial mucosa atrophy. In chronic non-obstructive bronchitis they exhibited mild bronchoobstruction on the distal level. Laboratory indices showed no essential changes., Conclusion: Chernobyl wreckers have a more severe course of CB.

The specificity of lung irradiation caused by ionizing radiation is influence on mucous membranes of respiratory ways, alveolar epithelium and capillaries of a small circle of the blood circulation. Under diseases of bronchus-lung system the lipid peroxidation (LPO) processes activation is observed. The radiating influence strengthening effect. In results in imbalance aggravation in system "LPO-antioxidants", and long expressing of LPO intensification is the important mechanism of the inflammation chronization. The sharp increase of proteolytic activity and inhibitor activity decrease is found out in the patients-liquidators. Noticed imbalance results in the further change of permeability of membranes and correlates with an index of endoscopy inflammation changes and index of irreversible changes in lung tissue. Thus, the direct connection between LPO intensity and imbalance degree of proteinase-inhibitor system of blood at the patients with chronic bronchitic taking part in Chernobyl accident liquidation is revealed.

Bronchial biopsies from persons exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl accident with clinically verified chronic bronchitis were studied by electron microscopy. The results demonstrate transformed alterative, compensatory-adaptive and inflammatory reactions in bronchial mucosa of contingent. Nevertheless, their integral significance does not alter the nosologic form, and some structural equivalents have dynamic expression.

Overall forty-five children with asthmatic bronchitis (AB) and recurring bronchitis (RB) residing in those territories being affected by radioactive contamination were examined with the aid of pathohistological and histochemical techniques elaborated at the F. G. Ianovskiĭ Institute of Phthisiology and Pulmonology (Ukraine) to study biopsy specimens of the epithelial covering of the gums and bronchial mucosa. AB and RB clinical patterns showed manifest dependence on the degree of the bronchial mucosa tissues reaction to ionizing radiation.