title: Frequency of dicentrics and contamination levels in Ukrainian children and adolescents from areas near Chernobyl 20 years after the nuclear plant accident.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey the possible presence of chromosomal damage and internal contamination in a group of Ukrainian children and adolescents, 20 years after the Chernobyl accident at the Nuclear Power Plant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytogenetical procedures were performed according to dicentric assay in 55 Ukrainian children and adolescents (29 boys and 26 girls), living near Chernobyl. In addition, a whole body detector and urinalysis were used to detect internal contamination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  36 dicentrics were found in a total of 53,477 metaphases scored in these children, which reflected a frequency of dicentrics below the background level. On the other hand, internal contamination was not detected in any subject studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the estimated absorbed dose is below the detection limit, according to both biological and physical dosimetry, radiation overexposure during the last 3-5 years has not been detected in the considered subjects.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Protección Radiológica, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Alegría
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montoro
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sebastià
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Candela-Juan
authors.forename: Joan Francesc
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Barquinero
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almonacid
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guasp
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marques-Sule
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Such
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arnal
authors.forename: Juan Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Villaescusa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001822:Body Burden; D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014455:Ukraine