RETINA VESSELS CHANGES IN CHORNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT EMPLOYEES WHO EXPERIENCED LONG-TERM ABNORMAL RADIATION EXPOSURE AT THE WORKPLACE AS A RESULT OF THE OCCUPATION OF CHORNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN 2022

Abstract

During the occupation of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) in 2022, a group of employees remained in the working town for a long time. These personnel were exposed to long-term radiation and non-radiation factors of the production environment, as well as stress and other factors. These factors could result in negative changes of health. It is known that radiation exposure causes changes in the course and caliber of retinal vessels. Objective: to assess the condition of retinal arteries and veins and the level of incorporated 137Cs content in persons who were exposed to prolonged exposure to radiation and non-radiation factors of industrial environment, as they were at the workplace overtime during the occupation of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 2022. Materials and methods. A comprehensive ophthalmological examination was carried out. Which included the determination of the diameter of the retinal arteries and veins, the arteriovenous ratio, of 55 people from among the personnel of the ChNPP, who worked under the conditions of the occupation of the ChNPP. All those examined were examined on an expert human radiation counter. The results of the ophthalmological examination were compared with the results of earlier examinations of ChNPP employees of the same age groups. Results. It was established that in the examined group, a decrease in the arterio-venous ratio was observed, mainly due to the expansion of retinal veins. Dilatation of the veins was asymmetric, mainly the branches of the central vein of the retina of the right eye were more dilated. Retinal arteries were narrowed in all examined subjects. When comparing the results with the data of previous examinations, it was established that the arterio-venous ratio in this group was probably lower than in previously examined employees of the ChNPP of the same age groups. At the same time, the maximum registered value of the content of incorporated 137Сs was 713 Bq/organism, none of the examined exceeded the control level of 1,000 Bq/organism. Conclusions. Violation of blood circulation in the retina was detected - a probable increase in the arteriovenous ratio due to the expansion of the retinal veins in the personnel of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant who worked under the conditions of the occupation of the ChNPP in 2022. Since the examined subjects did not exceed the control level of incorporated 137Сs content (1,000 Bq/organism), the observed effect may be a consequence of the influence of other, both radiation and non-radiation factors. Key words: Retina, retinal vessels, arteriovenous ratio, ionizing radiation, incorporation of radioactive substances, personnel who worked under the conditions of occupation of ChNPP.