Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026. Vol. 71. № 2

DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-2-13-17

V.Yu. Soloviev, A.Yu. Bushmanov, M.A. Karamullin, E.A. Gudkov, 
L.Yu. Mershin, I.A. Galstyan, A.S. Kretov, N.A. Metlyaeva

Perculiarities of Post-Irradiation Dynamics of the Absolute Peripheral Blood Neutrophil Count Following the Exposure to Gamma-Neutron Rays in Victims of Criticality Accidents

A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia

Contact person: Vladimir Yurievich Soloviev, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT 

Purpose: Was to investigate the post-radiation dynamics of peripheral blood neutrophil count following gamma-neutron irradiation resulting from a spontaneous chain reaction (SCR).

Material and methods: Databases (on radiation accidents and acute radiation sickness (ARS)) from the information resource of the A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia were used for the study. Data from four similar radiation accidents involving loss of criticality control and the formation of a spontaneous chain reaction (SCR) were reviewed: two accidents in 1971 and two accidents in 1968. SCR accidents are characterized by the predominance of a significant neutron component in the near-field gamma-neutron spectrum. A total of 11 people were injured in these accidents. The irradiation conditions and clinical and laboratory findings of ARS with signs of hematopoiesis recovery in seven victims of these accidents were analyzed.

Results: It was shown that the irradiation conditions of victims in these radiation accidents differed significantly from the «classical» model of uniform general irradiation, with uneven dose distribution across the body volume of the exposed individuals. Changes in neutrophil count in the peripheral blood of victims of radiation accidents with sequential chain reaction (SCR) exhibited distinctive features compared to the known kinetics for uniform general irradiation. The phases of initial increase, initial decrease, abortive rise, and secondary decline in neutrophil count did not differ in onset and duration under uniform and uneven irradiation, but the recovery phase in the latter case occurred 6‒8 days earlier, shortening the most dangerous minimum phase, which occurs during the peak of the bone marrow form of ARS. This suggests greater preservation of the endogenous pool of hematopoietic stem cells and their progeny with uneven dose distribution throughout the body of the victims, which ensures earlier restoration of endogenous hematopoiesis during the peak of ARS. Despite the combined nature of radiation injury and the additional formation of local radiation-induced skin lesions due to exposure to the neutron component of the radiation, the acute period of ARS was characterized by a more favorable course of infectious manifestations of the injury.

Keywords: radiation accident, SCR, self-reactive crises, non-uniform gamma-neutron irradiation, ARS, peak period, neutrophil kinetics

For citation: Soloviev VYu, Bushmanov AYu, Karamullin MA, Gudkov EA, Mershin LYu, Galstyan IA, Kretov AS, Metlyaeva NA. Perculiarities of Post-Irradiation Dynamics of the Absolute Peripheral Blood Neutrophil Count Following the Exposure to Gamma-Neutron Rays in Victims of Criticality Accidents. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026;71(2):13–17. DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-2-13-17

References

1. Maklaflin T.P., Monakhan SH.P., Pruvost N.L., Frolov V.V., Ryazanov B.G., Sviridov V.I. Obzor Yadernykh Avariy s Vozniknoveniyem STSR = Review of Nuclear Accidents with the Occurrence of Self-Sustaining Chain Reaction. Los Alamos, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2003. 155 p. (In Russ.).
2. Barabanova A.V., Baranov A.Ye., Bushmanov A.Yu., et al. Ostraya Luchevaya Bolezn’ Cheloveka. Atlas. Chast’ II. Postradavshiye pri drugikh Radiatsionnykh Avariyakh, krome Radiatsionnoy Avarii na CHAES 1986 g. = Acute Radiation Sickness in Humans. Atlas. Part II. Victims of other Radiation Accidents, Except for the 1986 Chernobyl Accident. Ed. A.S.Samoylov, V.Yu.Soloviev. Moscow, FMBTS im. A.I.Burnazyana FMBA Rossii Publ., 2017. 111 p. (In Russ.).
3. Vorob’yev A.I., Brilliant M.D. Clinic and Treatment of Acute Radiation Sickness Caused by Gamma-Neutron Irradiation (1973).  Izbrannyye Materialy Byulletenya Radiatsionnoy Meditsiny = Selected Materials of the Bulletin of Radiation Medicine. Volume II. Moscow, FMBTS im. A.I.Burnazyana FMBA Rossii Publ., 2016. P. 300-343. (In Russ.).
4. Selidovkin G.D., Barabanova A.V.  Acute Radiation Sickness from General Irradiation. Ed.  L.A.Il’in. Radiatsionnaya Meditsina = Radiation Medicine. Vol. 2. Moscow, IzdAT Publ., 2001. 72 p. (In Russ.).
5. Vorob’yev A.I., Brilliant M.D., Drutman R.D., et al. Reconstruction of the Position of Victims in an Emergency Situation and Dose Loads on Individual Parts of the Body (1974). Izbrannyye Materialy Byulletenya Radiatsionnoy Meditsiny = Selected Materials of the Bulletin of Radiation Medicine. Volume II. Moscow, FMBTS im. A.I.Burnazyana FMBA Rossii Publ., 2016. P. 353-368. (In Russ.).
6. Soloviev V.Yu., Baranov A.Ye., Konchalovskiy M.V., Chistopol’skiy A.S. Prediction of Post-Radiation Dynamics of Neutrophil Concentration in Human Peripheral Blood under Non-Uniform Irradiation. Meditsinskaya Radiologiya i Radiatsionnaya Bezopasnost’= Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 1997;42;3:17-23 (In Russ.).
7. Vyalova N.A., Ivanov T.A., Pokrovskaya V.N., Suvorova L.A. Dynamics of Bone Marrow Aplasia in Acute Radiation Sickness Caused by Combined Beta and Gamma Radiation. Izbrannyye Materialy Byulletenya Radiatsionnoy Meditsiny = Selected Materials of the Bulletin of Radiation Medicine. Volume I. Moscow, FMBTS im. A.I.Burnazyana FMBA Rossii Publ., 2016. P. 333-345 (In Russ.).
8. Soloviev V.Yu., Baranov A.Ye., Khamidulin T.M. Database of Acute Radiation Injuries to Humans. Report 2. Forecasting Post-Radiation Dynamics of Neutrophil Concentration in Human Peripheral Blood under Uneven Emergency Irradiation Throughout the Body. Meditsinskaya Radiologiya i Radiatsionnaya Bezopasnost’= Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2011;56;4:24-31 (In Russ.).

 PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The study had no sponsorship.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 20.01.2026. Accepted for publication: 25.02.2026.