Re: Ukraine's Thyroid Cancer Rate Rises

[Andy Hull <hull@mail.sep.bnl.gov>]

The most complete review to date of Chernobyl related thyroid cancers that
I am aware of is contained in a background paper that was presented by E.
D. Williams at the 1996 EC/IAEA/WHO sponsored International Conference "One
Decade After Chernobyl" .  From the Abstract:

"Four  years after the Chernobyl accident on 26 April 1986, an increased
incidence of thyroid carcinoma (cancer) was noticed in children in Belarus
and the Ukraine.  The increase has continued, with well over 500 cases
reported in the areas around Chernobyl."

"There is strong evidence that the increased incidence of childhood thyroid
cancer is due to radiation exposure as a result of the Chernobyl accident,
based on the geographical and temporal distribution of the cases.  In both
Belarus and the Ukraine they are commonest in the oblasts close to
"Chernobyl that had high levels of contamination. The incidence in children
born more than 6 months after the accident drops dramatically to the low
levels expected in unexposed populations."

"The evidence that the increase is due to radioactive isotopes of iodine is
at present circumstantial. It is based on the fact that the increase in
cancer in the exposed populations is limited to thyroid tumors."   

"Future effects are difficult to predict, because of a lack of experience
of exposure at this level of a large population.  The cohort made up of
those who were avery young at the time of the accident and were exposed at
high levels is likely to carry an increased risk of developing thyroid
cancer of many years."

At 05:40 PM 10/19/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>     Is any age correlation with increased cancers given?  The Chernobyl 
>     disaster was in 1986, about 12.5 years ago.  Consequently, any 
>     children whose thyroid cancer is linked to direct exposure must be at 
>     least 12 1/2 years old.  Exposure from vegetation contamination and 
>     milk contamination might take this down to 10 years. What is the 
>     latency for thyroid cancer?  At what age is a thyroid cancer victim no 
>     longer considered a child?  These are real questions I have -- not 
>     rhetorical or facetious ones.
>     
>     Clearly only my own opinion.
>     
>     Ruth Weiner
>     rfweine@sandia.gov
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: Ukraine's Thyroid Cancer Rate Rises
>Author:  sandyfl@earthlink.net at hubsmtp
>Date:    10/19/98 4:12 PM
>
>
>More data for our resident Radsafe epidemiologists:
>     
>Monday October 19 1:52 PM EDT
>     
>KIEV, Ukraine (AP) _ The number of cases of thyroid cancer 
>among Ukrainian children is increasing following the 1986 
>Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the country's health minister said 
>Monday.
>     
>About 1,030 children now suffer from thyroid cancer in Ukraine, 
>said the minister Andriy Serdiuk. Not too long ago, the figure 
>was only 800 or 900, he said, without giving an exact time frame.
>     
>``The appearance of this disease was caused by the 
>consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power 
>plant,'' Serdiuk said.
>     
>The 1986 explosion and fire at Chernobyl was the world's worst 
>nuclear accident. It sent a cloud of radiation over parts of the 
>former Soviet Union and Europe, causing serious health problems 
>in Ukraine and neighboring Belarus.
>     
>Serdiuk spoke after discussing Chernobyl-related health issues 
>with the visiting U.N. humanitarian aid coordinator, Sergio 
>Vieira de Mello.
>     
>He said the U.N. official's visit might help the country better battle 
>the consequences of the disaster.
>     
>Ukraine is to receive $2.5 million under a program sponsored by 
>the United Nations and U.S. cancer institutions to provide
>health care for the people who cleaned up after the explosion and 
>their children.
>     
>     
>------------------
>Sandy Perle
>Technical Director
>ICN Dosimetry Division
>ICN Plaza
>3300 Hyland Avenue
>Costa Mesa, CA 92626
>Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306
>Fax:    (714) 668-3149
>     
>sandyfl@earthlink.net
>sperle@icnpharm.com
>     
>ICN Dosimetry Website:
>http://www.dosimetry.com
>     
>Personal Website:
>http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205
>     
>"The object of opening the mind, as of opening
>the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
>              - G. K. Chesterton -
>     
>The opinions expressed are solely, absolutely, positively, definitely
those of 
>the author, and NOT my employer
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