Background/aim The objective is to identify the impact of water pollution with radionuclides on the childhood disability structure.

Methods A total of 58 persons with disabilities under the age of 18 and 195 disabled adults living in the Valley of the Mayluusuu River passing through the uranium biogeochemical zone were subjected to examination. The examined were divided into 2 groups depending on the nature of water consumption. Group I included 46 children under the age of 18 who consumed water from the Mayluusuu River which is polluted with radionuclides. Group II comprised 12 children under the age of 18 who consumed water from the Naryn River (uranium-free zone).

Results The children were divided into 2 groups depending on the source of water supply. Group 1 included 46 children who consumed water from the Mayluusuu River. Group II – 12 children with water supply from the Naryn River. In Group I, congenital pathologies were observed in 97.8%. Of them, oligophrenia in 32.6%, mental retardation in 10.9%, Down’s syndrome in 8.7%, congenital deaf mute in 8.7%. In control, the pathology requiring continuous monitoring – mental retardation was diagnosed in 8.33%, congenital deaf mute in 8.3%, cerebral palsy in 16.7%, congenital heart disorder in 16,7% and congenital dislocation of the hip joint in 16,7%. Among the 195 adults with disabilities, congenital pathologies were diagnosed in 61.02%. The structure of pathologies was similar to that of Group I.

Conclusion Thus, congenital pathologies predominate (97.8% versus 91.7% in control) among the population consuming water contaminated with radionuclides. In Group I, mental disabilities predominate, accounting for 60.9% vs 16.6% in control. The number of disabled people requiring constant care is 3.5 times higher in uranium zone than in uranium-free areas. But this question requires further studies.