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Fwd: [graffis-l] Chernobyl disaster caused cancer cases in Sweden
------- Forwarded message -------
From: "Mark Graffis" <mgraffis@vitelcom.net>
To: x3 <graffis-l@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [graffis-l] Chernobyl disaster caused cancer cases in Sweden
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 13:27:50 -0400
Chernobyl disaster caused cancer cases in Sweden
Public release date: 19-Nov-2004
Contact: Anika Agebjörn
anika@info.liu.se
46-13-28-1334
Swedish Research Council
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-11/src-cdc111904.php
Study of development of cancer in seven Swedish counties establishes
connection
A statistically determined correlation between radioactive fallout from the
Chernobyl accident and an increase in the number of cases of cancer in the
exposed areas in Sweden is reported in a study by scientists at Linköping
University, Örebro University, and the County Council of Västernorrland
County.
It is the first study demonstrating such a correlation. It is being
published in the scientific journal Journal of Epidemiology and Community
Health.
A rise in cancer cases related to the Chernobyl accident has previously
been
established in studies carried out in the former Soviet Union.
After the nuclear power accident at Chernobyl on April 26, 1986, some of
the
radioactive emissions were carried by the wind to Sweden. Heavy rain caused
a relatively large amount, about 5 percent of the Cesium-137 released in
the
disaster, fell on Sweden, above all along the coastal area of Northern
Sweden and northern central Sweden. The fallout in Sweden was unevenly
distributed and, compared with the areas close to the nuclear power station
at Chenobyl, considerably less. Knowledge of the possible consequences of
radioactive fallout on health prompted a number of measures to be taken to
reduce these consequences at the time of the Chernobyl accident.
The study now being published aims to help answer the question of whether
there is increased cancer morbidity that can be tied to this fallout. The
study divides the parishes in the seven northernmost Swedish counties into
six classes on the basis of ground coverage of cesium 137. Most of the
parishes in the seven counties, 333 out of 450, were impacted by the
fallout. One class comprising 117 parishes received no fallout, and the
individuals in these parishes were used as a control group. Those people
aged 0-60 who were resident in the counties in question and who had the
same
address on December 31, 1985 and December 31, 1987, were monitored for
development of cancer. At the outset of the study 1,143,182 individuals
were
included, and 22,409 cases of cancer were registered during the years 1988
through 1996.
There is a statistically established correlation between the degree of
fallout and an observed rise in the number of cancer cases. The increase
involves all types of cancer in the aggregate. On the other hand, no clear
effect can be seen for individual forms of cancer, not even for those types
that have been regarded as especially susceptible to radiation, such as
leukemia or thyroid cancer.
It is remarkable that an increase in cancer morbidity could have occurred
after such a relatively short time following the accident, but just such a
short time period has been described for groups exposed to radioactive
radiation. If the correlation found here is not a product of chance, or
other unknown disturbances than those corrected for in the analysis, then
one possible explanation is that the radiation hastened the growth of
already established tumors in their early stages, rather than that new
tumors occurred.
###
More information about the study on cancer cases tied to the Chernobyl
accident:
Martin Tondel, specialist physician, Section of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, Linköping University, phone: 46-13-22-1454,
martin.tondel@liu.se.
Peter Hjalmarsson, public health expert, Section for Social Medicine and
Public Health Studies, Linköping University, phone: 46-13-22-8875,
peter.hjalmarsson@ihs.liu.se.
Lennart Hardell, professor, chief physician, Oncological Clinic, University
Hospital, Örebro, phone: 46-19-602-1000, lennart.hardell@orebroll.se .
Göran Carlsson, chief physician at the Västernorrland County Council,
currently advisor to the Ministry of Health, Zambia, phone: 260-9686-0250,
goran.carlsson@uudial.zm .
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