Chernobyl, 10 Years After: Health Consequences

Bard, Denis; Verger, Pierre; Hubert, Philippe

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a017952

Cited by 63 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(95 reference statements)

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“…There is a clear association between the development of thyroid cancer and exposure to ionizing radiation, especially in childhood. Supportive evidence includes the dramatic outbreak of thyroid cancer, particularly in children and young adults that occurred following nuclear accidents such as the Chernobyl event in 1986 (15). A dramatic rise in medical imaging includes the increased use of nuclear medicine studies and more strikingly axial imaging, particularly computed …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Epidemic of Thyroid Cancer in the United States: The Role of Endocrinologists and Ultrasounds

Udelsman

Zhang

2014

Thyroid

203

138

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Background: The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased at an alarming rate in both men and women in the United States. The etiology of this epidemic is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that a significant component of this epidemic is due to increased detection of occult disease. We examined whether the density of endocrinologists and general surgeons as well as employment of cervical ultrasonography were factors associated with this epidemic. Methods: Thyroid cancer incidence rates by states were obtained from the United States Cancer Statistics 1999-2009 reported by the National Program of Cancer Registries. The densities of endocrinologists and general surgeons and the employment of cervical ultrasonography were calculated on a statewide basis and correlated with the incidence of thyroid cancer. Results: Age-standardized incidence rates of thyroid cancer have increased in every state in the United States. Significant regional variations were noted, with the highest incidence rates in the northeast and the lowest in the south. The incidence rates were significantly correlated with the density of endocrinologists (r = 0.58, p < 0.0001 for males; r = 0.44, p = 0.0031 for females) and the employment of cervical ultrasonography (r = 0.40, p = 0.0091 for males; r = 0.36, p = 0.0197 for females). Both the density of endocrinologists and general surgeons and employment of cervical ultrasonography could explain 57% of the variability in state-level incidence for males and 49% for females. Conclusions: These data offer evidence to suggest that the epidemic of thyroid cancer is due to increased detection of a reservoir of previously occult disease. The increased detection of thyroid cancer results in therapeutic interventions including surgery and radioactive thyroid treatment that may be of limited benefit.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Epidemic of Thyroid Cancer in the United States: The Role of Endocrinologists and Ultrasounds

Udelsman

Zhang

2014

Thyroid

203

138

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“…Except for an increase in thyroid cancer in children and adolescents, no confirmed effects on specific aspects of health have yet been reported (1). However, as has occurred after similar events, such as the Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear power plant accident near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA, rumors proliferated about adverse health effects, and evacuees and inhabitants of contaminated regions reported excess morbidity and medical service use (2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as has occurred after similar events, such as the Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear power plant accident near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA, rumors proliferated about adverse health effects, and evacuees and inhabitants of contaminated regions reported excess morbidity and medical service use (2). In contrast to the growing understanding in the West of the relationship of extreme stress to physical health (3), the somatic symptoms manifested by evacuees and inhabitants of the contaminated regions were dismissed locally with diagnoses such as "radiophobia" (1,4,5) and vegetative dystonia, also known as vascular dystony, the official diagnosis given for symptom clusters involving headache, fatigue, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, and abdominal pain believed to stem from Chornobyl-related worry (6).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Somatic symptoms in women 11 years after the Chornobyl accident: prevalence and risk factors.

Bromet

Gluzman

Schwartz

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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Exposure to the Chornobyl nuclear power plant explosion resulted in widespread, persistent somatic complaints, but little is known about the nature and risk factors for these conditions. This study compares the health reports of 300 women evacuated to Kyiv from the contamination zone around the plant and 300 controls with a child in the same homeroom as the evacuees in 1997. The interview addressed somatic concerns, risk factors for poor health, and Chornobyl-related stress. Compared with controls, evacuees reported significantly more health problems and rated their health more poorly overall. These differences remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical risk factors, including the tendency to amplify physical symptoms. Significantly more evacuees received a diagnosis of a Chornobyl-related illness by a local physician, believed that their health and their children's health had been adversely affected, and were positive for Chornobyl-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. After controlling for these Chornobyl stress variables, the differences in number of health problems commonly attributed to Chornobyl remained significant but differences in general health ratings did not. The perceptions of controls were similar to those of women in a national sample. The relationship between Chornobyl stress and illness was twice as strong in evacuees (odds ratio = 6.95) as in Kyiv controls (odds ratio = 3.34) and weakest in the national sample (odds ratio = 1.64). The results confirm the persistence and nonspecificity of the subjective medical consequences of Chornobyl and are consistent with the hypothesis that traumatic events exert their greatest negative impacts on health in vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. Key words: Chornobyl disaster, environmental exposure, epidemiology, female, health, risk factors, somatic symptoms, stress, subjective health, Ukraine.

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“…Plusieurs miilions de personnes ont été impliquées à des degrés divers qu'il s'agisse des << liquidateurs D chargés de décontaminer et nettoyer le site autour du réacteur, des habitants évacués dans la semaine suivant l'accident et relogés dans des zones parfois non indemnes de contamination, ou encore, des résidants des zones contaminées (UNSCEAR, 1988). En 1995, on avait diagnostiqué dans les pays de la Communauté des États Indépendants (CEI) plus de 600 cas de cancer de la thyroïde chez les enfants âgés de moins de 15 ans (Bard et al, 1997). L'accident a eu des conséquences économiques et sociales lourdes qui ont touché à des degrés divers les 280 millions de personnes des trois pays de la CEI.…”

Section: L'accident De Tchernobylunclassified

Conséquences des accidents radiologiques sur la santé mentale

1998

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RÉSUMÉpsychiatriques, mais ces effets ont été beaucoup moins étudiés. Des groupes où les effets semblent avoir été plus marqués ont été identinés tels les mères de jeunes enfants, les personnes relogées, les p e r~~~e~ ne pouvant bénéficier d'un soutien social de qualité ou en situation de précarité économique. La détresse psychologique observée peut favoriser le développement de troubles psychiatriques et donner lieu à des changements de comportement à l'égard de la santé. Des recherches restent nécessaires pour mieux préciser la nature des troubles rencontrés et leurs déterminants. Elles devraient s'appuyer sur la construction d'outils mieux adaptés notamment à l'évaluation des circonstances individuelles d'exposition et au diagnostic des effets. ABSTRACT The aftermath of nuclear accidents on mental heaithTechnological disasters bring about psychological effects in expased populations of various durability and intensity. This article reviews the epidemiological studies which assess psychological and psychiatric consequences of the Three Müe Island, Goïania and Chemobyl accidents. It shows, in different accidental and cultural contexts, a statistically signifiant and durable increase of psychological symptoms in various exposed population groups, which points out an actual psychological distress. Diagnosed psychiatric effects are less constant, but much less studied. Most affected groups are mothers of young chiidren, relocated persons, persons with less social support or in financial trouble. The psychological distress can further psychiatric disorders and give rise to behavioural changes towards heaiih. More research is necessary to deiineate the nature and the determinants of the observed symptoms and disorders. It implies to design better tools for the assessment of individual exposure and the diagnasis of mental health effects.

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Chernobyl, 10 Years After: Health Consequences

Cited by 63 publications

References 82 publications

The Epidemic of Thyroid Cancer in the United States: The Role of Endocrinologists and Ultrasounds

The Epidemic of Thyroid Cancer in the United States: The Role of Endocrinologists and Ultrasounds

Somatic symptoms in women 11 years after the Chornobyl accident: prevalence and risk factors.

Conséquences des accidents radiologiques sur la santé mentale

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