Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Haeusler, MC; Berghold, A; Schoell, W; Hofer, P; Schaffer, M.
The influence of the post-Chernobyl fallout on birth defects and abortion rates in Austria.
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 167(4 Pt 1):1025-1031
Doi: 10.1016/S0002-9378(12)80032-9
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- Führende Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Haeusler Martin
- Co-Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Berghold Andrea
- Schöll Wolfgang
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- Abstract:
- Researchers analyzed data on 66,743 births which occurred between 1985-1989 in the Styria region in southern Austria to determine whether radioactive fallout from the meltdown of the nuclear reaction at Chernobyl in the Ukraine, USSR in may 1986 affected the birth defect and abortion rates in this area of Austria. There were 1695 birth defect cases. Of the birth defects which occurred during embryogenesis, most occurred 14-49 days postconception (group 2; n=630). The researchers did not note a short-term effect of the fallout in group 2 or the other groups (relative risk= 0.75, 0.73 for group 1, and 0.93 for group 2). Baseline birth defect rates (per 1000 births) for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 2.5, 8.5, and 1,8 respectively. The only sizable increase occurred in group 2 at years 2 and 3 (10.6 and 10.3, respectively). More reported minor congenital defect cases accounted for this increase due to the newly established data base in the Department of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Graz. Thus the increase was an artifact and not a true increase. Abortion rates varied from 10% to 14% and did not increase significantly after Chernobyl. Counseling frequency at abortion clinics fluctuated greatly (117-205) both before and after Chernobyl and the changes were not significant. These results indicated that the low dosage of radiation did not have a detectable biologic effect in terms of birth defects and abortions. The researchers addressed the difficulties with measuring teratologic potential of low dose radiation. They also highlighted the need for accurate categorizing of birth defects, adequate baseline data, and very reliable registries. Future research on possible environmental disasters which affect Austria can use these data as baseline data.
- Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
- Abortion, Induced -
- Abortion, Spontaneous - epidemiology
- Artifacts -
- Artifacts -
- Congenital Abnormalities - epidemiology Congenital Abnormalities - etiology
- Counseling -
- Female -
- Humans -
- Incidence -
- Infant, Newborn -
- Pregnancy -
- Radioactive Fallout - adverse effects
- Registries -
- Risk Factors -
- Risk Factors -
- Risk Factors -
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- Abnormalities
- Congenital
- Abortion
- Epidemiology
- Radioactive Fallout
- Registries