Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE:
RURAL POPULATION VITALITY INDEX
[Article in Ukrainian]
N. V. Gunko*, N. F. Dubova
State Institution “National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, Melnykov str., 53, Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine
*Corresponding author: Natalia V. Gunko, e-mail: gunko@lanet.kiev.ua

The vitality index for 1986–2009 was calculated to assess population reproduction of the contaminated rural districts of Ukraine. During the study period, the average value of the vitality index was established to be lower than the national ones. It was revealed that there are significant territorial differences in the change of integrated vitality index in time, which have no statistical dependence on levels of radioactive contamination of the territories. The vitality index within the contaminated districts is positive only in some Northern districts of Ukraine’s Polissia, namely: Volyn (Каmin-Kashyrskyi, Lyubeshiv districts) and Rivne (Berezne, Volodymyrets, Rokytne, Sarny districts) regions. In total, these data do not allow to assess clearly whether the Chornobyl catastrophe has negative or positive effects on reproduction of the exposed human population and require more detailed studies with consideration of all constituent elements of medical and demographic analysis (population size, age and sex structure of population, fertility, mortality, migration).

Key words: Chornobyl accident, vitality index, depopulation, contaminated territories.

Probl. Radiac. Med. Radiobiol. 2012. Issue 17. P.55–62.