[Down syndrome and ionizing radiation: causal effect or coincidence]

Annual and monthly prevalence of Down's Syndrome has been analyzed in Belarus for a 19-year period (1981 to 1999). The distribution of 2786 DS cases during this period showed no significant long-term prevalence trend. Meanwhile, 2 marked increases of DS prevalence were registered in 1987 and 1990. The most remarkable annual increases were observed in 1987 in Minsk city, in Vitebsk oblast (considered as contamination-free administrative district) and in Minsk oblast (partially contaminated area), data not shown in the text. Much more marked and significant increases were recorded in January 1987, in Minsk city, Gomel oblast and Minsk oblast. However it is impossible to establish a causal relationship between these clusters of DS and exposure to the Chernobyl fallout, at a geographical level. The presence of such a cluster 9 months after the explosion in one of the most exposed area (Gomel oblast) should incite to careful conclusions and prompt further studies.