RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of long-term and low dose ionizing radiation on ocular lens opacities of residents living in areas with high natural radiation background(HNRB) in Yangjiang City, China. METHODS: A total of 483 Han residents from Yangjiang City(HNRB area) and 517 from Enping City(control area) were selected as study subjects using a cluster random sampling method. Questionnaire survey and lens examination were carried out. The risk factors of lens opacity and its severity were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of lens opacity, cortical opacity and posterior subcapsular opacity in HNRB area were higher than those in control area(60.7% vs 51.6%, 53.4% vs 46.8%, 21.9% vs 9.3%, all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in karyotype turbidity between HNRB area and control area(52.4% vs 47.6%, P>0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors including age, gender, cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, smoking, alcohol drinking and tea drinking, the unconditional logistic regression analysis results showed that the risk of ocular opacity, cortical opacity and posterior subcapsular opacity in residents of HNRB area was higher than that in control area(all P<0.05). Multivariate disordered logistic regression analysis results showed that residents in the HNRB area had a higher risk of grade two karyotype turbidity than grade one karyotype turbidity(P<0.01). Ordered logistic regression analysis results showed that residents in HNRB area had an increased risk of developing severe cortical turbidity(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Long-term and low dose ionizing radiation exposure may increase the risk of ocular lens opacity, especially cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract, and affect the severity of the disease.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To understand the general awareness of the residents around a newly built nuclear power,to evaluate the safety and the attitude on the construction of nuclear power. METHODS: By the stratified random sampling method,1 029 general publics and 260 representatives were selected for investigation. The participants were from 30 km range around the nuclear power plant,each 5 km was assigned as 1 layer and there were total 6 layers. RESULTS: 74. 9%( 965 /1 289) interviewees were not aware of nuclear power,3. 1%( 40 /1 289) interviewees were well or very-well understand nuclear power. The awareness score of the general publics was lower than that of the representatives( 1. 0 vs3. 0,P < 0. 01); male,younger people,higher educational level,higher family income,religious people and living close to the nuclear power plant had higher awareness( P < 0. 05). A total of 28. 4%( 366 /1 289) interviewees considered the nuclear power was very safe or safe. The evaluation of nuclear power safety of the general publics was inferior to the representatives( P < 0. 05). The representatives,older people and those living far away from the nuclear power have better evaluation on the nuclear power safety than the general publics( P < 0. 05). Only 13. 0%( 167 /1 289) interviewees supported building the nuclear power in their residence construction; male,people with family members working in nuclear power plant,people with high degree of awareness on nuclear power,considered highly safety of the nuclear power had higher support for the local nuclear power construction( P < 0. 05). The interviewees who mostly believe about nuclear energy sources were experts,government officials,plant management and domestic media. CONCLUSION: Residents around the nuclear power plant had low awareness of the knowledge about nuclear power. Therefore,it is necessary to enhance the awareness of residents on nuclear power and the trust on the government.