Health effects in a casual sample of immigrants to Israel from areas contaminated by the Chernobyl explosion

Title: Health effects in a casual sample of immigrants to Israel from areas contaminated by the Chernobyl explosion

Author: E A Kordysh, J R Goldsmith, M R Quastel, S Poljak, L Merkin, R Cohen, and R Gorodischer

Reference: Environ Health Perspect. 1995 October; 103(10): 936–941.

Keywords: Health effects, immigrants (from Chernobyl-affected areas), Israel

Abstract: We analyzed questionnaire and physician examination data for 1560 new immigrants from the former USSR divided into three groups by potential exposure to Chernobyl radiation. Two groups were chosen according to soil contamination by cesium-137 at former residences, as confirmed by our findings in a 137Cs body burden study. The third group consisted of “liquidators,” persons who worked at the Chernobyl site after the disaster. Liquidators had greater self-reported incidences of symptoms commonly accepted as acute effects of radiation exposure, increases in prevalence of hypertension, and more health complaints. Excesses of bronchial asthma and health complaints were reported in children from the more exposed communities. Asthma prevalence in children potentially exposed in utero appears to be increased eightfold. Older adults from more exposed areas had more hypertension as assessed by history and measurements. These findings suggest the possible association of radiation exposure with several nonmalignant effects.

URL:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1519167/ 

Two-year follow up study of stress-related disorders among immigrants to Israel from the Chernobyl area.

Title: Two-year follow up study of stress-related disorders among immigrants to Israel from the Chernobyl area.

Author: J Cwikel, A Abdelgani, J R Goldsmith, M Quastel, and I I Yevelson

Reference: Environ Health Perspect. 1997 December; 105(Suppl 6): 1545–1550.

Keywords: stress disorders, immigrants (from Chernobyl-affected areas), Israel

Abstract: [We report on findings from a 2-year follow-up study of immigrants originating from exposed areas around the site of the 1986 Chernobyl accident matched with comparison subjects emigrating from other republics in the Confederation of Independent States. In the initial study of 708 immigrants, the samples were matched by age, gender, and year of immigration. We assessed two exposure groups–high and low–by estimating levels of ground cesium contamination from the International Atomic Energy Agency maps. We reinterviewed 520 immigrants from the first wave of data collection (a reinterview rate of 73%), 87 from high-exposure areas, 217 from low-exposure areas, and 216 comparison subjects. This study examined the prevalence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), depression, somatization, anxiety, and physical effects (high blood pressure, acute symptoms, and chronic illness)…]

URL:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1469946/

Immigrants from Chernobyl-affected areas in Israel: the link between health and social adjustment

Title: Immigrants from Chernobyl-affected areas in Israel: the link between health and social adjustment

Author: L.I Remennick

Reference: Social Science & Medicine Volume 54, Issue 2, January 2002, Pages 309–317

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(01)00030-2

Keywords: Israel; Chernobyl; Radiation exposure; immigrants (from Chernobyl-affected areas); Cumulative adversity, health effects, social adjustment

Abstract: The concept of cumulative adversity is a useful tool in the study of migration under chronic stress from past traumas. Drawing on this concept, the study explored long-term health and psychosocial effects of past radiation exposure among survivors of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster who immigrated to Israel during the 1990s. Self-rated health status and indicators of social adjustment were compared in two groups of Russian immigrants: 180 persons from Chernobyl-affected areas and 200 immigrants from other areas of the former USSR. The semi-structured questionnaire was administered by Russian-speaking sociology students and analyzed by both quantitative and qualitative methods. In line with earlier research, both the somatic and mental health of Chernobyl survivors were significantly worse than in other immigrants of the same gender and age; a significant share of reported health problems were probably psychosomatic. Depression, sense of stigma and cancer-related anxiety were more prevalent in the study group. Immigrants from contaminated areas tended to use more health services (both conventional and alternative), but were less satisfied with their quality and providers’ attitude. The link between perceived health impairment and poorer social accommodation in the host country has been confirmed: Chernobyl-area immigrants experienced more severe occupational downgrading and were more disappointed with the results of their resettlement than other immigrants.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953601000302

http://www.impact.arq.org/doc/kennisbank/1000011072-1.pdf