Buccal Micronucleus Cytome Assay for the assessment health status of population living in the area of nuclear heritage

Introduction. An essential task of hygiene is assessing the health status of the population living in areas with adverse environmental and hygienic conditions. Materials and methods. A study of the health status of 50 children of three age groups was carried out in Dunay city, Primorsky Krai, located near the enterprise “The Far Eastern Center for Radioactive Waste Management, Far East Center “DalRAO.” Health status was assessed using the buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCA) to determine the cytogenetic and cytotoxic effects of environmental factors. Results. The frequency of buccal cells with micronuclei in groups of children from the Dunay city varied within 0.33–0.47‰, which does not exceed the control level of 1.1%, determined within the framework of the international project HMNxl. The level of cytogenetic stress is defined as acceptable (but not low). Given the index of accumulation of cytogenetic damages, it is possible to rank the studied groups according to their cytogenetic status in the direction of deterioration: kindergarten children, older and younger schoolchildren. Conclusion. The approach proposed in this study made it possible to quantitatively determine the mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of factors on the children’s population of the Dunay city. It can be recommended as an informative method for the population health status assessment during socio-hygienic monitoring, including in the territories of nuclear (legacy) sites.