Abstract
Since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster about 1.6 million people in the area of Gomiel (Southern Byelorussia) have been exposed to most of the radioactive pollution derived from the plant. Starting already with 1986, the frequency of malignant tumors showed a steady increase: from 223.7 to 246.3/100000 in 1990. Cancer mortality was 141.9/100000 in ′86 and 159.3 in ′90. Incidence of thyroid tumors rose from 3.1 in ′86 to 4.1/100000 in ′90, but in the same period also diagnosis of endemic goiter increased threefold. Frequency of acute leukemia was 1.4/100000 in ′85 and 2.0 in ′90, but also that of chronic lymphoid leukemia increased from 2.7 to 4.4/100000 in the same years. Frequency of chronic myeloid leukemia and of multiple myeloma showed only slight variations. The induction period after radioactive contamination is said to be 2-5 years for thyroid carcinoma and leukemias. The early increase of cancer diagnosis in the area of Gomiel, therefore, may in part be the effect of increased clinical attention and improved health services after the nuclear accident.
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Andolina, M., Cuttini, M., de Manzini, A. et al. 92 CANCER FREQUENCY IN THE REGION OF GOMIEL AFTER THE NUCLEAR PLANT ACCIDENT OF CHERNOBYL. Pediatr Res 30, 643 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199112000-00122
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199112000-00122