Health status of child population living in the vicinity of the far-eastern center for radioactive waste management (FEC DALRAO)

Introduction. The subject of the study was the health of the child population of Dunai village located in the vicinity of radiation hazardous facilities – the Far-Eastern Center for Radioactive waste management (FEC DalRAO) and Shipyard-30 .  

Material and Methods. The material of the study was age indices of the morbidity, disability, and mortality rate of children of Dunai village over the period between 2009 and 2013. The study uses indices averaged over a five-year period and the dynamics of their changes.

Results. The birth rate of the healthy child amounted of 54.6% versus 72.0% in the control group. In the morbidity structure, the rate of congenital malformations was higher 68.0 ± 0.4 and 42.8 ± 5.9 per 1000. Child disability was higher and accounted for 15.3 ± 3.3 per 1000 versus 10.4 ± 0.4 per 1000 in the control group. The child mortality rate was higher than in the comparison group and accounted for 1.8 per 1000 and 0.75 per 1000 respectively. Public doses induced by manmade radiation sources were lower than those established for the population in the Russian standards, however, the increased level of natural radioactivity was induced by radon, which generates in a dose of 3.23 mSv/y.

Conclusion. To protect the child population there are advised additional measures such as an organization of the permanently operating system of recreational and rehabilitation activities in respect to children.