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[Chronicled report on the period from May 1 to September 27, 1989. Discussion of risk factors]
I Lenartowska1, M Ołtarzewski, I Lisewska
1Endocrinology Department, Instutute of Mother and Child, Warsaw.
Insights
Children born after the Chernobyl accident showed no significant health or thyroid damage. A study of 1912 children found normal development and thyroid function, with low rates of congenital malformations and thyroid antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Context:
- The Chernobyl accident in 1986 exposed populations to radiation.
- Assessing long-term health effects on children is crucial.
- Poland implemented screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the general health and thyroid status of children born after the Chernobyl accident.
- To identify any potential long-term health consequences in a cohort of Polish children.
Summary:
- A study examined 1912 children (aged 2.9-4.2 years) born after the Chernobyl disaster.
- General health, physical development, and mental development were assessed.
- Thyroid function tests, including TSH, T4, and T3 levels, were performed.
- Congenital malformations were observed in 1.7% of children, comparable to the general population.
- Thyroid function was normal in most children, with a low incidence of goiter (0.8%) and antithyroid antibodies (0.63%).
Impact:
- This study provides evidence that children born in Poland after the Chernobyl accident did not experience significant long-term health or thyroid-related issues.
- Findings contribute to understanding the health impact of nuclear accidents on pediatric populations.
- Highlights the importance of continued monitoring and screening programs for affected children.
Abstract:
The Institute of Mother and Child was invited in 1988 by professor J. Nauman to his Chernobyl program, so as to inspect children born after Chernobyl accident, particularly these born in first days following the accident dated 26 april 1986. The central part of Poland is covered with screening for congenital PKU and hypothyroidism therefore all children had estimated TSH-spot levels between 3rd and 5th day of life. So as to control the present state of general health and thyroid state in the study group a questionnaire with a letter to parents explaining the aim of the inquiry was sent to the parents (see addenda). About 14000 letters were send from which around 12000 responses were returned to the Institute. From informations received this way we draw the preliminary conclusion that no significant damage in health of these children or their siblings can be found. About 20% of the mothers admitted taking the Lugol solution in a last day of pregnancy. However it should be taken into account that these data were collected 2 years after the accident and are not fully reliable. In the period 1989-1990 a group of 1912 children (938 boys and 974 girls) was called to the Department of Endocrinology of the Institute and inspected. The age was from 2.9 to 4.2 years. All children had screening TSH-spot test result negative (below 30 microIU/ml). General health state The general health state of the children inspected was good. Only 33 of them (1.7%) had various congenital malformations what is not different from general population of polish children. Mental development was in 1897 cases normal, in 15 cases IQ was decreased and the score varied from 75 to 80 according the Brunet-Lezine scale. Average physical development was normal. Body height evaluated in standard deviation score (SDS) was as follows: SDS = 0.0 in 359; SDS = +0.9 +/- 0.6 in 906 and SDS = -0.5 +/- 0.3 in 647 cases. Thyroid state At 1904 inspected and analytically estimated children the thyroid function was normal. Only in 8 cases (0.8%) a goiter was found with euthyroid state. Analytical data were as follows: total T4 serum level = 111.8 + 43.1 nmol/l (50.4-171.9), ref. value: 50.1-170.0 nmol/l; total T3 serum level = 2.5 +/- 0.4 nmol/l (ref. value 1.9-3.6); TSH serum level 4.4 +/- 2.6 uIU/ml. Trace amounts of antithyroid membrane antibodies were found at 12 children (0.63%) of the group in serum diluted 1:250.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)