Dietary and clastogenic factors in children who immigrated to Israel from regions contaminated by the Chernobyl accident

The authors evaluated the possible association between dietary history and plasma clastogenic factors in children who immigrated to Israel between 1989 and 1993 from regions contaminated by the Chernobyl accident. The authors compared questionnaire data about demographic variables, dietary histories before and after immigration occurred, and health status with clastogenic factor scores for 162 immigrants. Logistic regression analysis revealed a negative association between clastogenic factor scores and frequency of consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit among children < or = 7 yr of age during the postimmigration period. Intake of eggs and fish by boys who were < or = 7 yr of age prior to immigration was associated positively with clastogenic factor scores. Consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits afforded protection to the immune systems of children who were < or = 7 yr of age.

Juvenile hypothyroidism among two populations exposed to radioiodine

We found an epidemic of juvenile hypothyroidism among a population of self-defined "downwinders" living near the Hanford nuclear facility located in southeast Washington State. The episode followed massive releases of 131I. Self-reported data on 60 cases of juvenile hypothyroidism (<20 years of age) among a group of 801 Hanford downwinders are presented, as well as data concerning the thyroid status of approximately 160,000 children exposed to radioiodine before 10 years of age as a result of the 26 April 1986 Chernobyl explosion in the former Soviet Union. These children were residents of five regions near Chernobyl. They were examined by standardized screening protocols over a period of 5 years from 1991 to 1996. They are a well-defined group of 10 samples. Fifty-six cases of hypothyroidism were found among boys and 92 among girls. Body burdens of 137Cs have been correlated with hypothyroidism prevalence rates. On the other hand, the group of juvenile (<20 years of age) Hanford downwinders is not a representative sample. Most of the 77 cases of juvenile hypothyroidism in the Hanford group were diagnosed from 1945 to 1970. However, the ratio of reported cases to the county population under 20 years of age is roughly correlated with officially estimated mean levels of cumulative thyroid 131I uptake in these counties, providing evidence that juvenile hypothyroidism was associated with radioiodine exposures. Because even subtle hypothyroidism may be of clinical significance in childhood and can be treated, it may be useful to screen for the condition in populations exposed to radioiodine fallout. Although radiation exposure is associated with hypothyroidism, its excess among fallout-exposed children has not been previously quantified.

Evaluation of the Radiation Exposures of Chernobyl "Liquidators": Exploratory Studies of a Sample of Immigrants to Israel

Workers who were involved in the clean-up and recovery operation after the Chernobyl disaster ("liquidators") numbered about 800,000. Estimates of their exposures are highly relevant to evaluation of possible effects on their health. While some exposure measurements were made, they were also used for job assignments and terminations. The earliest and probably greatest exposure preceded adequate monitoring. By means of exploratory studies, the authors evaluated an exposure-estimating system proposed by a WHO consultation team in St. Petersburg. An index is derived based on recorded or reported 1) calendar time of initiating work, 2) location near or distant from the reactor, 3) duration of exposure, 4) type of work, 5) post-exposure symptoms, 6) blood count decreases, and 7) use of protective equipment. Data were obtained by interviews of liquidators who presented at a Beer Sheva clinic during evaluation of Cs-137 body burden. Of 75 liquidators, four had no data, one had only one item, six had two, 11 had three, 210 had four, 20 had five, 11 had six, and one had seven items. Only 19 had dose estimates. There was no trend in mean scores/item with increase in the number of items, indicating lack of information bias. Measured values, when available, were consistent with the scores. Clastogenic scores were determined for 26 of these subjects; the correlation with exposure indexes was 0.02, but for those with "positive" clastogenic tests (more than six abnormal divisions per 100), the correlation with the scores was 0.44. No such relationship was found for the persons with elevated Cs-137 tests. Glycophorin A antigen tests discriminated between liquidators and others, but, in this small study, did not correlate with the indexes.

Chemical exposures and Parkinson's disease in residents of three Negev kibbutzim

We consider whether chemical pollutants in drinking water (including aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, and phthalic acid) or used occupationally in agriculture that have shown no parkinsonism-inducing effect may be responsible for excess cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) in three adjacent kibbutzim in southern Israel (Negev). Literature data on PD pathogenesis have been compared with common pathogenetic pathways to xenobiotics effects; the following neurotoxic mechanisms, besides individual sensitivity, have been suggested: (1) impairment of the protective role of the substantia nigra against toxicants by binding of chemicals to melanin; (2) oxidative stress induction, including glutathione reduction, impaired calcium metabolism, and alteration of cytochrome P-450 activity; (3) blockade of iron chelators because of structural similarities to them or their precursors; (4) mediation of the production of endogenous dopaminergic neurotoxins, such as trichloroharmanes or isoquinolines; (5) blockade of dopamine receptors because of their resemblance to chemicals with affinity to these receptors; (6) stimulation of prostaglandin-H synthase and monooxygenase activity; and (7) stimulation of autoimmune processes and creation of autoimmunity to structures of the dopaminergic system caused by chemical similarity.

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

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.

[Contribution of petroleum-processing plants to the total level of atmospheric air pollution]

On the basis of results of field studies the means to reveal the contribution of oil extracting and processing enterprises (the main components of discharges are similar to the common prevalent impurities in the air of residential areas) into the total level of ambient air pollution has been developed. The method takes into account the relationship between average annual concentrations of oil hydrocarbons and carbon oxide.