Pectine Food Additives -
Radiomonitoring of the Population in Belarus

V.B. Nesterenko, L.V. Bordak, Vl.B. Nesterenko.

 

"Health effects of the Chernobyl accident : results of 15-years follow-up studies"       Conference: June 4 - 8, 2001, Kiev, Ukraine.   Abstract published in the  "International journal of radiation medicine"  Special Issue Vol. 3, No. 1-2, 2001

From 1996 to 2000, the Cs137 load, in more than 92.000 children in the Chernobyl regions of Belarus has been measured with "Human-Health-Radiameters" (HHR). 70-90% of these children had more than 15Bq/kg bodyweight. In many villages, the load reached 200-400Bq/kg, in some 1.500-2.000Bq/kg and even 4.000-7.000 Bq/kg.

Anatomopathological research by Prof Bandazhevsky from 1996-1999, showed great differences in the Cs137 load in various organs (10-30 times). Values of more than 50Bq/kg body-weight induce pathological alterations in organs and vital systems in children.

This highlights the importance of therapeutic research performed in Ukraine on the possibility to reduce the incorporation of radionuclides and heavy metals with pectine food-additives.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine prescribes water-soluble pectine tablets, "Yablopect", to inhabitants of radio-contaminated regions : cures of 20-30 days (2-4 tablets/day for adults , 1-2 tablets for children), renewed every 3 months.

The effectiveness of these cures has been studied at "Belrad" : in 20-30 days, "Yablopect" permits a reduction of the Cs137 load in the children's organisms of 30-40%, in the sanatorium "Ostrochitzkij-Gorodok", even 70%.

In collaboration with a German pharmaceutical company, "Belrad" developed the production of a pectine food additive from apples, with 7 vitamins and 4 oligoelements : "Vitapect". Experiments have been performed with the Health Ministry, Scientific and Practical Center for Expertise and Security, which delivered a permit for the production, the sale and use of "Yablopekt".

Since April 2000, "Belrad" produces 100 doses/day of "Vitapect", which has been given to several thousand children. Measures performed by HHR before and after the cure, showed a reductions of 40-65%. of the Cs137 load in the organism.

Next year, helped by foreign charities, "Belrad" hopes to produce this pectine food additive in a location offered by the House of Charity of the Orthodox Chapel of All Saints (Minsk), for 500.000 children in Chernobyl regions of Belarus : 4.000-8.000 doses/day.

HHR ("Belrad") permit to monitor the effectiveness of protective measures in the population.

Adress of the Authors :

Institute for Radioprotection "Belrad"

V. Khorushei 31a, 220002 Minsk, Belarus

 Published in :  International Journal of Radiation Medicine 2001, 3 (1-2) p.92-93