Fallout exposure in the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site area and the induction of thyroid nodules diseases
From 1949 through 1989, nuclear weapons testing carried out by the former Soviet Union at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS), resulted in substantial levels of radiation exposure of settlements and their residents near the test site area. The results of dose reconstruction indicate a dose ra...
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| Published in: | International Congress series Vol. 1236; pp. 47 - 50 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier B.V
01-01-2002
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | From 1949 through 1989, nuclear weapons testing carried out by the former Soviet Union at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS), resulted in substantial levels of radiation exposure of settlements and their residents near the test site area. The results of dose reconstruction indicate a dose range from 2.0 mSv to 2.5 Sv. To investigate the possible relationship between radiation exposure and the thyroid gland abnormalities prevalence, we conducted a thyroid screening study of 3000 exposed and non-exposed current residents of the eight villages near the test site, all the residents were of similar ages (<20) at the time of the fallout and follow-up study of 311 inhabitants as well. Prevalent nodules were identified by ultrasound, malignancy was determined by fine needle aspiration biopsy and cytopathology, and circulating levels of thyroid hormones were assayed from blood samples. The nodular thyroid gland was identified in 920 of the study participants, of whom 506 were recommended for fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Furthermore, 65 cases had evidence of prior thyroid surgery. The thyroid nodule prevalence was 36% among exposed and 26% among the non-exposed residents, and increased significantly with increasing estimated age-modified gamma-ray doses (ERR=5.2 per 1 Gy, CI 95%=2.7–8.5). The cytopathology review identified 30 papillary carcinomas in 27 cases and 10 follicular neoplasms in 10 cases. The high frequency of the thyroid dysfunction and thyroiditis among the exposed has been documented. This study revealed an apparently strong association between the fallout exposure and thyroid disease prevalence, and suggests more detailed molecular research of the thyroid cancer induction should be carried out. |
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| ISSN: | 0531-5131 1873-6157 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/S0531-5131(02)00154-1 |