[Congenital malformations among offspring of the liquidators of the consequences from Chernobyl accident].

The frequency and the structure of congenital malformations at children of the liquidators of the consequences from Chernobyl accident, undergone to an external scale gamma-irradiation in dozes up to 25 cGy. In total is surveyed 2379 newborn at which is revealed 318 intrauterine development defects. The received results are compared to the earlier published data on birth of congenital malformations in families of the fathers who have undergone to an irradiation in connection with professional activity at the enterprises of a nuclear industry, with emergency irradiation, with irradiation as a result of explosions of nuclear bombs in Japan, and are discussed from positions of the basic rules (situations) of radiating genetics. Total frequency, the frequency of forms 21 of inherent defects of development, taken into account in the International register of congenital malformations and frequency 9 forms heaviest of congenital intrauterine development defects with the high contribution mutation components at children of the liquidators authentically is higher than on the average on Russian Federation. The dependence of the frequency congenital malformations at children from dozes of an irradiation of the fathers--liquidators is revealed. The curve of dependence of the frequency of congenital malformations from time, past after work up to copulation carries arched character with peak of rise of frequency of congenital malformations in 2-3 years and decrease in 6-7 years.

Cover-up of the effects of internal exposure by residual radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The criteria certifying atomic bomb disease adopted by the Japanese government are very different from the actual state of the survivors. The criteria are based on epidemiological research by the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, the successor to the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC). The ABCC studied only the effects of primary radiation from the atomic bombing on the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and ignored the damage from residual radiation. Analysis of the incidence of acute radiation disease, the rate of chromosomal aberrations, and the relative risks of chronic disease among the survivors, shows that the effects of residual radiation from fallout exceeds that of primary radiation in the area more than 1.5-1.7 km distant from the hypocentre of the Hiroshima bombing. The effects of internal exposure due to intake of tiny radioactive particles are more severe than those of external exposure, explaining the difference between the official criteria and the actual state of the survivors.

Residence near power lines and the risk of birth defects.

BACKGROUND: There has been some concern that exposure to electromagnetic fields may cause birth defects. We studied risks of birth defects by residential exposure to 50-Hz magnetic fields from power lines. METHODS: We estimated the distance between residence and power lines for 161,844 Norwegian residences, and their corresponding magnetic fields in the period 1980 to 1997. Risks of 24 categories of birth defects were compared across exposure levels, adjusting for social and demographic variables. RESULTS: Among those living near power lines, the greatest reductions in risk were for cardiac defects (odds ratio = 0.5; 95% confidence interval = 0.3-0.9) and respiratory defects (0.4; 0.2-0.9). The largest increase in risk was for esophageal defects (2.5; 1.0-5.9). Other associations were weaker and had wide confidence intervals. CONCLUSIONS: There was little evidence that residence near power lines affected the risk of birth defects. The observed decreased risks of cardiac and respiratory defects and the increased risk of esophageal defects should be interpreted with caution given the number of endpoints, the imprecision in the calculations of the distance from the residence to the power line, and the limited information on pregnant women's change of residence.

Evaluation of the impact of Chernobyl on the prevalence of congenital anomalies in 16 regions of Europe. EUROCAT Working Group.

BACKGROUND: Surveillance data from population-based congenital anomaly registers in 16 regions of Europe (mainly Western Europe) were analysed to assess the impact of the Chernobyl accident on the prevalence of selected congenital anomalies. METHODS: Three cohorts of pregnancies were defined: those exposed during the first month following Chernobyl (External Exposure Cohort), the first year (Total Exposure Cohort) and the two subsequent years (Control Cohort). Expected numbers of congenital anomalies in these cohorts were calculated from 1980-1985 baseline rates. Registries were grouped into three exposure categories according to first-year exposure estimates. RESULTS: There was no overall or dose-related increase in prevalence in the two exposed cohorts for Down's Syndrome, neural tube defects, other central nervous system defects or eye defects. There was a statistically significant overall 22% (95% CI: 13-31%) excess of Down's Syndrome in the Control Cohort, with no dose-response relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Chernobyl had no detectable impact on the prevalence of congenital anomalies in Western Europe, suggesting that in retrospect the widespread fear in the population about the possible effects of exposure on the unborn fetus was not justified. An increasing prevalence of Down's Syndrome in the 1980s, probably unrelated to Chernobyl, merits further investigation.

Changes in registered congenital anomalies in the Republic of Belarus after the Chernobyl accident.

A descriptive analysis of birth defects and malformations was performed to assess whether the rates of these defects correlate with the geographic areas of Belarus that received different levels of 137Cs contamination resulting from the Chernobyl catastrophe. Since this accident in 1986, the frequency of both congenital and fetal abnormalities in the Republic of Belarus has apparently increased. This increase is most prominent in areas with at least 555 9Bq/m2 radioactive contamination, although it has not been possible to correlate the individual dose received by a pregnant woman with the incidence of congenital malformations. The types of anomalies that were most increased in frequency were multiple congenital malformations, polydactyly, and reduction limb defects. These malformations are commonly associated with dominant new mutations. Chromosomal disorders such as occur in Down syndrome were not increased in frequency, nor could teratogenic effects be attributed to exposure to ionizing radiation. Preventive measures have apparently reduced the number of births with congenital abnormalities but have had no apparent effect on the frequency of fetal defects. Results of our analysis are consistent with the hypothesis that ionizing radiation released during the Chernobyl accident may have placed fetuses and neonates at risk for congenital malformations. Epidemiological studies are now required to determine whether a mother's radiation dose correlates with congenital malformations in her children.

A case-control study of congenital malformations and occupational exposure to low-level ionizing radiation.

In a case-control study, the authors investigated the association of parental occupational exposure to low-level external whole-body penetrating ionizing radiation and risk of congenital malformations in their offspring. Cases and controls were ascertained from births in two counties in southeastern Washington State, where the Hanford Site has been a major employer. A unique feature of this study was the linking of quantitative individual measurement of external whole-body penetrating ionizing radiation exposure of employees at the Hanford Site, using personal dosimeters, and the disease outcome, congenital malformations. The study population included 672 malformation cases and 977 matched controls from births occurring from 1957 through 1980. Twelve specific malformation types were analyzed for evidence of association with employment of the parents at Hanford and with occupational exposure to ionizing radiation. Two defects, congenital dislocation of the hip and tracheoesophageal fistula, showed statistically significant associations with employment of the parents at Hanford, but not with parental radiation exposure. Neural tube defects showed a significant association with parental preconception exposure, on the basis of a small number of cases. Eleven other defects, including Down syndrome, for which an association with radiation was considered most likely, showed no evidence of such an association. When all malformations were analyzed as a group, there was no evidence of an association with employment of the parents at Hanford, but the relation of parental exposure to radiation before conception was in the positive direction (one-tailed p value between 0.05 and 0.10). Given the number of statistical tests conducted, some or all of the observed positive correlations are likely to represent false positive findings. In view of strong contradictory evidence, based on no demonstrated effects in genetic studies of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it is unlikely that these correlations result from a cause and effect association with parental radiation exposure.