Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

D. E. Afanasyev, O. V. Kaminskyi, O. V. Kopylova, I. G. Chikalova, I. M. Muraveva, K. O. Vakoluk,
O. V. Pronin, O. O. Samoylov, T. O. Belingio, O. V. Tepla, L. V. Rozhkivska, I. V. Ylyanchenko,
K. V. Gryschenko, L. O. Tsvet, N. S. Dombrovska

State Institution “National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, Melnykov str., 53, Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine

Initial healthcare to pediatric population under the radiation events

The Objectiveof this paper is to analyze the data from scientific literature and available recommendations for health professionals on healthcare providing to pediatric population in the events associated with risk of radiation exposure. Over the past sixty years there were several large-scale radiological events with a large number of chil- dren affected, namely the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, contact to 137Cs radiation source unutilized at the hospital shutdown in Brazil etc. Further research has crys- tallized injuries and health disorders in the survived children in all cases being much more significant vs. other pop- ulations. Analysis of circumstances and features of a number of emergency situations or incidents in the nuclear industry for several decades has shown a high probability of radioactive materials release into the environment. The danger of terrorism with the use of ionizing radiation sources resulting in a considered inevitable hazard to the chil- dren is estimated as serious in recent years and deserves an especial mention here.
Key words: ionizing radiation exposure of the population, the Chornobyl disaster, the health of children, radiation medicine.

Problems of radiation medicine and radiobiology. 2016;21:21-44.