[Epidemiologic foundation for population studies of program MZ-XVII]

Epidemiological foundation included: aim of studies, knowledge about epidemiology of thyroid disorders in Poland, evaluation of radioiodine dose accumulated in thyroids of inhabitants of different age living in different par of Poland, information about relative diet iodine deficiency in different parts of Poland and identification of research teams (manpower) capable to carry on population studies. The final identification of epidemiological foundation was proceeded by pilot studies performed in 4 different regions of Poland. Finally it was decided that population studies would be performed in so called Regions of 6 different University Medical Schools (Białystok, Kraków, Lódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Wrocław). The sample will be selected randomly on the base of information from the voting lists (random selection of vovoidoship, then towns and villages, then streets and number of houses, then number of flats. All living in selected flat or house during Czernobyl accident and born between January 1974 and December 1985 (children) and between January 1926 and December 1973 (adults) will be considered "the sample". In all cases the sample will be examined by means of unified questionnaire and protocol of medical and laboratory examination. The same kits (of the same producers) will be used to evaluate serum TSH, T4, T3 and thyroid autoantibodies. The data obtained will be evaluated by unified computerized system. Separate studies involved the sample of newborns exposed to radioiodine during last trimester of pregnancy, found to be euthyroid and given potassium iodide in first days of life. Separate system was also used to investigate effect of radioiodine and of prophylactic dose of potassium iodide in those with past history of thyroid disorders.