Keywords
131І
iodine deficiency
thyroid gland
endemic goiter
iodine prophylaxis
How to Cite
Abstract
As a result of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear
Power Plant (ChNPP), one of the main acting factors was radioactive
iodine-131 (131І) and other iodine radioisotopes, which have a high
affinity for the thyroid gland (TG) and affect the iodine supply (IS)
of the population. Iodine deficiency (ID) causes increased absorption
of 131І by the thyroid gland during nuclear disasters and can
cause further damage to it. In addition, not only thyroid diseases
occur, but also pregnancy pathology, impaired physical and mental
development, deterioration of general health and even a decrease
in the mental potential of the nation. The aim: to analyze the state
of the IS of the population of the northern region of Ukraine on
the basis of many years of research. Material and methods. According
to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), a
comprehensive large-scale epidemiological study of IS in the child
and adult population of the northern region of Ukraine affected by
the accident at the ChNPP was conducted, using palpation methods,
ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland, and determination
of urinary iodine excretion. In total, with the support of WHO
and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
(UNICEF), 10 420 children and adolescents were examined during
1997-2000 years. The study was carried out within the framework of
the Ukrainian-American program «Scientific project to study cancer
and other thyroid diseases in Ukraine as a result of the Chornobyl
accident» (Ukrainian-American project) according to the protocol
agreed upon by the institutions of Ukraine and the United States of
America. Within the framework of the WHO project «STEPS» (chronic
diseases study) from July to November 2019, 263 urine samples of
patients randomly evenly selected from different settlements of
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Ukraine were analyzed. Iodine status was studied in 108 residents of
Kyiv during 2024-2025 years. Results. Studies of 1997-2000 years in
the affected settlements of Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Rivne, Chernihiv regions,
as well as in Kyiv showed a goiter frequency of 17.46% to 77.42%.
The median of ioduria 46.7, 62.9, 54.3, 52.08, 62.9 μg/L, respectively,
indicated a moderate and weak degree of ID. Thus, the results of the
Ukrainian-American Project 1998-2000 years showed the presence
of moderate and weak ID. The level of consumption of iodized salt
was very low – up to 5%. After the adoption of the state program
«Prevention of iodine-dependent diseases for 2002-2005 years»,
consumption increased by 15%. The level of IS of the population
in 2019 year according to the WHO program «STEPS» in the northern
region of Ukraine was approaching the moderate degree of ID.
Studies during 2024-2025 years showed the presence of mild ID in
the population of Kyiv. Conclusions. ID in the territories affected by
the accident at the ChNPP persists. The positive trend of improving
iodine status in some areas does not solve the problem of eliminating
ID, which requires the creation of a stable, controlled system of
IS for the population of the affected regions.
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