Level of reactive oxygen species in children under 5 years of age, living in the higher radiation background area

Objective: To study the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the influence of an increased radiation background. Methods: The level of ROS in the blood determined in 25 newborns and in 75 children from three to five years old living in the high radiation background area. The control group also included 100 children living in areas with a natural radiation background. ROS determined by the reduction of nitrous tetrazole in blood serum. The level of ROS in blood plasma directly correlated with the colour intensity of the reduced nitrous tetrazole.Results: The levels of ROS in children living in conditions with a normal natural background of radiation were determined, which was the norm: for newborns, 0.166±0.002 mmol/ml; in children 3 years old – 0.169±0.002 mmol/ml; in children 4 years old – 0.170±0.002 mmol/ ml; in children 5 years old – 0.167±0.002 mmol/ml. In this case, the oscillations, as can be seen from the data, were within the error range (p>0.05). At the same time, in children living in conditions of increased radiation background, there was a significant increase in the level of ROS: in newborns – 0.308±0.004 mmol/ml; in children 3 years old – 0.303±0.010 mmol/ml; in children 4 years old – 0.317±0.011 mmol/ml; in children 5 years old – 0.312±0.006 mmol/ml. In this case, as in the children of the control group, changes in the values of the ROS level as a function of age ranged within the statistical error (p>0.05) in the main group.Conclusion: This study revealed an increased formation of ROS in the body of children under 5 years of age living in areas where the natural radiation background elevated.Keywords: Reactive oxygen species, radiation, newborn, children.