Title: Health status of children exposed to the Chernobyl accident in utero: observations in 1989-2003 and the implications for prioritizing prophylactic programs
Author: Nataliya A. Korol, Yoshisada Shibata
Reference: Radiation Health Risk Sciences, 2009, pp 271-276
doi: 10.1007/978-4-431-88659-4_35
Keywords: Chernobyl accident, Exposed in utero, Somatic diseases, Neurotic disorders, Prophylactic programs
Abstract: To elucidate the health effects of exposure in utero to the Chernobyl accident, we compared the health status of 406 children (201 boys and 205 girls) born from women pregnant at the time of the accident (exposed group), and 406 children matched for gender and year of birth (control group) born from mothers who had been living in the same district of Kiev as mothers of the exposed group since before the accident, on the basis of biennial checkup results from 1989 through 2003. Prevalence was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group in bronchitis, liver system disorders, and stomach disorders observed in 1995– 2003 and in vegetative nervous system disorder and cardiovascular disorders observed in 1997–2003. The prevalence of neurotic disorders was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group in 1989–1997; it increased dramatically until 1993, then decreased dramatically in 1995–1997, and the difference diminished in effect in 1999–2003. The results of the present study suggest the effectiveness of the massive psychosocial support programs launched in 1993 by national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for those exposed in utero as a “social target group.” People exposed in utero are still in need of prophylactic intervention with the emphasis on bronchitis, stomach disorders, liver system disorders, cardiovascular disorders, and vegetative nervous system disorder.
URL: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-4-431-88659-4_35
Title: The Chornobyl accident and cognitive functioning: a follow-up study of infant evacuees at age 19 years
Author: Taormina DP, Rozenblatt S, Guey LT, Gluzman SF, Carlson GA, Havenaar JM, Zakhozha V, Kotov R, Bromet EJ.
Reference: Psychol Med. 2008 Apr;38(4):489-97
doi: 10.1017/S0033291707002462
Keywords: Chornobyl, disaster,neuropsychology,radiation, Ukraine, young adults
Abstract: The cognitive and academic outcomes of infants exposed to radiation after the meltdown at Chornobyl have been intensely debated. Western-based investigations indicate that no adverse effects occurred, but local studies reported increased cognitive impairments in exposed compared with non-exposed children. Our initial study found that at age 11 years, school grades and neuropsychological performance were similar in 300 children evacuated to Kiev as infants or in utero compared with 300 classmate controls, yet more evacuee mothers believed that their children had memory problems. This study re-examined the children’s performance and academic achievement at age 19 years.
URL: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1775156
Title: Children’s Well-being 11 Years After the Chornobyl Catastrophe
Author: Bromet EJ, Goldgaber D, Carlson G, Panina N, Golovakha E, Gluzman SF, Gilbert T, Gluzman D, Lyubsky S, Schwartz JE.
Reference: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000;57(6):563-571
doi:10-1001/pubs.Arch Gen Psychiatry-ISSN-0003-990x-57-6-yoa9231.
Keywords: psychological effects, children, Kiev
Abstract: The psychological effects of technological disasters have rarely been studied in children. This study assessed the aftermath of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster in children evacuated to Kyiv from the contaminated zone surrounding the nuclear power facility.
URL: http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=481617
Title: The psychological development of children from Belarus exposed in the prenatal period to radiation from the Chernobyl atomic power plant
Author: Kolominsky Y, Igumnov S, Drozdovitch V.
Reference: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999 Feb;40(2):299-305.
doi: 10.1111/1469-7610.00444
Keywords: Emotional disorder, specific learning disabilities, prenatal, radiation, social factors, education
Abstract: This study examined psychological development in 138 children at the age of 6-7 and 10-11 years, who had suffered prenatal radiation exposure at the time of the Chernobyl accident in 1986. These children were compared to a control group of 122 children of the same age from noncontaminated areas of Belarus. The examination included neurological and psychiatric examination, intellectual assessment, and clinical psychological investigation of parents as well as the estimation of thyroid exposure in utero. The exposed group manifested a relative increase in psychological impairment compared with the control group, with increased prevalence in cases of specific developmental speech-language disorders (18.1% vs. 8.2% at 6-7 years; 10.1% vs. 3.3% at 10-11 years) and emotional disorders (20.3% vs. 7.4% at 6-7 years; 18.1 vs. 7.4% at 10-11 years). The mean IQ of the exposed group was lower than that of the control group, and there were more cases of borderline IQ (IQ = 70-79) (15.9% vs. 5.7% at 6-7 years; and 10.1% vs. 3.3% at 10-11 years). The mean value of thyroid doses from 131I 0.4 Gy was estimated for children exposed in utero. No correlation was found between individual thyroid doses and IQ at age 6-7 years or 10-11 years. We notice a positive moderate correlation between IQ of children and the educational level of their parents. There was a moderate correlation between high personal anxiety in parents and emotional disorders in children. We conclude that a significant role in the genesis of borderline intellectual functioning, specific developmental disorders of speech, language and scholastic skills, as well as emotional disorders in the exposed group of children was played by unfavourable social-psychological and social-cultural factors such as a low educational level of parents, the break of microsocial contacts, and adaptational difficulties, which appear following the evacuation and relocation from the contaminated areas.
URL:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1469-7610.00444/abstract;jsessionid=C471A830E8A31F0CA0296DFA675419F3.d01t02
Author: V.M. Postrelko
Reference: Diss.doc.med.sci. Scientific Centre on Radiation Medicine NAMS of Ukraine, 2010
URL: http://info.odmu.edu.ua/lib/catalog/78581
Author: Zhavoronkova L. A., Lavrova T. P., Belostocky A. V., Kholodova N. B., Skoryatina I. G., Voronov V. P.
Reference: ЖУРНАЛ ВЫСШЕЙ НЕРВНОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИМ. И.П. ПАВЛОВА (Journal of higher nerbous activities named after I.P.Pavlov), 2006
Keywords: EEG, space-frequency parameter, cognitive performance
Abstract: Changes in frequency and space parameters of the EEG coherence evoked by cognitive performance were analyzed in 13 healthy subjects and participants of the Chernobyl clean-up. In healthy subjects, the EEG coherences in the alpha and beta frequency bands were significantly increased during arithmetic count and during visuospatial performance. Each test was characterized by regionally-specific features. Chernobyl patients demonstrated a global decrease in the EEG coherence predominantly in the alpha and beta frequency bands, especially in the frontal cortical areas. Patients with various pathological EEG patterns demonstrated specific impairment of EEG parameters. In patients with a “flat” EEG pattern, the EEG coherence predominantly decreased in the frontal associative areas, especially during arithmetic calculation. In patients with a “hypersynchronous” EEG pattern, the decrease in the EEG coherence was most pronounced in the parietal associative areas, especially during the visuospatial performance. The revealed impairments of the EEG coherence reactivity may be a reflection of disorders of the intracortical and corti-cosubcortical interaction and can result from the remote postradiation brain atrophy, especially, of cortical structures.
URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=9193503
Author: A.I. Nyagu, K.N. Loganovsky, N.Yu. Chuprovskaya et al.
Reference: Український медичний часопис (Ukrainian Medical Magazine), 1997
Abstract: For detail contact the publisher:
Publisher: «МОРИОН»
address: 02140, Kiev, prosp. Bazhana 10A
tel: 380(44)585-97-10
URL: http://www.umj.com.ua/
Author: I.V. Perchuk
Reference: Проблеми радіаційної медицини та радіобіології. (Problems of radiation medicine and radiobiology), 2010
Abstract: no information on web. For details contact the editor: vkpand@ukr.net
Ukrainian title: Біоелектрична активність головного мозку у персоналу при виконанні робіт на об’єкті «Укриття»
Title: The psychological well-being of Norwegian adolescents exposed in utero to radiation from the Chernobyl accident
Author: Kristin S Heiervang, Sarnoff Mednick, Kjetil Sundet and Bjørn R Rund
Reference: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 2011, 5:12
doi:10.1186/1753-2000-5-12
Keywords: Psychiatry, Mental Health, adolescents, Norway
Abstract: On 26 April 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant suffered an accident. Several areas of central Norway were heavily affected by far field radioactive fallout. The present study focuses on the psychological well-being of adolescents who were exposed to this radiation as fetuses.
URL:http://www.capmh.com/content/5/1/12
