Cesium-137 Contaminated Roads and Health Problems in Residents: an Epidemiological Investigation in Seoul, 2011

Abstract

BackgroundIn 2011, two roads in a residential area in Seoul were found to be contaminated with the radionuclide cesium-137 (137Cs). In response to public concerns, an epidemiological study was conducted.MethodsThe standardized cancer incidence ratios in the affected and neighboring regions were calculated based on the central cancer registry. Households in the region were sampled using the random stratified sampling technique, and questionnaires were administered to family members, via home visit and via students in elementary to high schools. Information on duration of residency and frequency of use of the roads was applied to calculate cumulative radiation exposure dose from the roads, alongside with the reported 137Cs contamination amounts. Information on past medical history, perceived risk, anxiety and psychological stress was also obtained. Of the 31,053 residents, 8,875 were analyzed. To examine possible associations between radiation exposure and health problems, logistic regression adjusted for covariates were performed with consideration of the sampling design, population weight and stratification.ResultsNo significant association was found between self-informed diseases, including cancers, and estimated radiation exposure dose. According to an increase of radiation level, a significant increase in anxiety in all and a decline in the psychosocial wellbeing of the adults was noted. The risk perception level was higher in the elderly, females, the less educated, and the highest exposed individuals.ConclusionThis study provides a basis for risk communication with residents and community environmental health policy.

Potential risk sites and their relationship with dengue cases, Campinas municipality, Southeast Brazil

“…Poisson regression is commonly used in epidemiological research, as illustrated by Demoury et al [ 40 ], Armstrong-Hough et al [ 47 ], Niedzwiedz et al [ 48 ], Tang et al [ 49 ], and Teng et al [ 50 ], and Negative Binomial Regression fitted well in our models, accounting for the overdispersion issue, as also pointed out by Fairos et al [ 18 ], while the Stone’s test is rarely used. The more recent studies we have found on this topic mainly deal with a small number of risk sources, such as Masseret et al [ 39 ], Demoury et al [ 40 ], Ha et al [ 51 ], and Rodriguez-Villamizar et al [ 52 ].…”

Cancer incidence in the cohort exposed to Cesium-137 accident in Goiânia (Brazil) in 1987

“…After five years of exposure to Cesium-137 at the Chernobyl accident, a discrete increase in cancer risk was observed 34 . A higher risk (18%) was observed for the development of solid neoplasms, between 1992 and 2009 [SIR: 1.18; 95%CI:1.15;1.22] 35 . The incidence of thyroid cancer increased in children and adolescents five years after the Chernobyl accident.…”

“…Psychosocial effects after exposure to Cesium-137 were described subsequently to the Seul accident, where risk perception was higher in older women, with lower education levels, and in the most exposed individuals 35 . Therefore, risk communication must be further studied in victims of accidents with ionizing radiation 36 .…”

An Evaluation of Cesium Removal from Simulated Radioactive Contaminated Soil with a Magnetized Zeolite Derived from Anthracite

“…Therefore, 137 Cs is the main nuclide in polluted soil, and it is a long-lived fission product that releases considerable heat (t 1/2 = 30.08 years, a β/γ emitter) and has a half-life of approximately 30 years in high-level radioactive liquid waste [6]. High levels of 137 Cs brought near the human body through inhalation or ingestion accumulate in tissue or muscles, which causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, coma, or more severe scenarios leading to death [7].…”