Radio-Ecological Situation in Rustavi and Oncological Morbidity of Population

Nino Vepkhvadze, Thea Kochoradze

Department of Preventive Medicine, Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia

Radio-ecological situation and oncological morbidity in Rustavi was investigated. An average indicator for open spaces is equal to 69.8+1.12 nGy/h. This figure corresponds to the relatively high level registered by the NRPB. Taking into account conditions in Georgia (geographic location and geophysical situation) this could be considered quite normal. An average RB indicator for buildings in Rustavi is 132+1.56 nGy/h, slightly exceeding the same type of radiation indicator in European countries. According to the results a mean annual dose of external radiation of population (20% from open spaces and 80% from buildings) is 1.04+0.13 mZv/y. This figure is higher than indicators registered in most European counters. On the basis of our data and the data obtained from the National Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Security we have undertaken contraposition of oncological morbidity indicators of Rustavi population with radio-ecological situation in Rustavi. The results of the study demonstrate that the oncological morbidity indicators for Rustavi population (incidence, prevalence, mortality) in 2002 are lower than the same indicators for Tbilisi, despite the fact that in both cities (Rustavi, Tbilisi) the average annual dose of radiation population is exposed to is almost the same – 1.04 and 1.07 mZv/y (respectively).

Keywords:  radiation background (RB), ionizing radiation (IR), radiobiological effects, radioecological situation, oncological morbidity