An increased frequency of structural chromosome aberrations in persons present in the vicinity of Chernobyl during and after the reactor accident. Is this effect caused by radiation exposure?

Title: An increased frequency of structural chromosome aberrations in persons present in the vicinity of Chernobyl during and after the reactor accident. Is this effect caused by radiation exposure?

Author: G. Stephan, U. Oestreicher

Reference: Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology, Volume 223, Issue 1, May 1989, Pages 7–12

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0165-1218(89)90057-8

Keywords: Chernobyl; Chromosome aberration; Human; Radiation effect

Abstract: About a week after the reactor accident in Chernobyl, a number of German citizens returned to the Federal Republic of Germany from different places of residence in the U.S.S.R. Chromosome analyses of these individuals show a surprisingly significant increase in dicentric chromosomes in comparison to the laboratory control. Acentrics are nearly twice as frequent as dicentrics. Centric rings are also in evidence. Chromatid breaks do not significantly differ from the control with the exception of 1 place of residence.

The frequency of aberrations is too high to be induced by absorbed doses calculated physically or by modelling techniques. So far, no explanation is available for the discrepancy – a factor of about 100 – between calculated absorbed doses and the measured biological effect.

ＵＲＬ：http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0165121889900578

EARLY INFANT MORTALITY IN WEST GERMANY BEFORE AND AFTER CHERNOBYL

Title: EARLY INFANT MORTALITY IN WEST GERMANY BEFORE AND AFTER CHERNOBYL

Author: G. Luning, J. Scheer, M. Schmidt, H. Ziggel

Reference: The Lancet, Volume 334, Issue 8671, Pages 1081 – 1083, 4 November 1989

doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(89)91091-X

Keywords: infant mortality, West Germany

Abstract: Early infant mortality rates in West Germany were plotted for regions with different radioactive burdens following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion in April, 1986. In all regions, the logarithms of the mortality rates fitted a linear model between 1975 and 1985, but from May, 1986, immediately after the accident, there was a striking deviation from the model in areas with greatest radioactive fallout.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014067368991091X