Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

V. V. Vasylenko, G. M. Zadorozhna, M. S. Kuriata, L. O. Lytvynets, D. V. Novak, L. P. Mishchenko

State Institution «National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», 53 Yuriia Illienka St., Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine

EVALUATION OF MAIN FOODSTUFFS CONSUMPTION BY RESIDENTS OF PARTICULAR SETTLEMENTS ON RADIOLOGICALLY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE

Objective: evaluation of main foodstuffs consumption levels of residents in particular settlements on radiologically contaminated territories of Kyiv, Rivne and Zhytomyr regions and determination of the proportion of local households products to goods purchased in the trade network in the daily ration.
Materials and methods. The research was conducted in 22 settlements of Kyiv, Rivne, Zhytomyr regions. For the study, the questionnaires were written for adults and children, which included 47 questions in 5 content blocks regarding the questionnaire data of the interviewed person; peculiarities of household management; levels of food consumption grown in local households and separately purchased in the trade network; levels of local wildlife products consumption; and the fifth – regarding the possession of information on radiation, received an individual dose of radiation from the «Chornobyl component», protective preventive measures. In total 539 people were interviewed, including 359 adults and 180 children aged 1 to 18 years. Information about children under 14 years of age was provided by their parents. Mathematical, statistical methods were used.
Results. According to the results of the survey, it can be stated that the main foodstuffs of residents of the surveyed settlements are milk and dairy products, potatoes and root crops of local cultivation, bread and bakery products purchased in the trade network. The analysis of the structure and dynamics of the diet of the population of the surveyed settlements showed a significant decrease in the consumption levels of basic food products, primarily purchased through the trade network, due to a decline in purchasing power of the population in recent years.
Conclusions. The diet of the residents of the surveyed settlements consists mainly of products produced in private or local households. Fewer people use wildlife products – wildfowl, fish from local water bodies, fresh and canned wild berries, and fresh and dried mushrooms, but due to their significant ¹³⁷Cs contamination, even small amounts of these products can result in a significant dose of radiation.
Key words: radiologically contaminated territories, diet, foodstuffs consumption levels, irradiation.

Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology.
2019;24:93-108. doi: 10.33145/2304-8336-2019-24-93-108

full text

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