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Blastopathies and microcephaly in a Chornobyl impacted region of Ukraine
Author(s) -
Wertelecki Wladimir,
Yevtushok Lyubov,
ZymakZakutnia Natalia,
Wang Bin,
Sosyniuk Zoriana,
Lapchenko Serhiy,
Hobart Holly H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
congenital anomalies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-4520
pISSN - 0914-3505
DOI - 10.1111/cga.12051
Subject(s) - microcephaly , microphthalmia , epidemiology , demography , population , neural tube , pediatrics , medicine , environmental health , geography , biology , fishery , pathology , genetics , embryo , sociology , gene
Abstract This population‐based descriptive epidemiology study demonstrates that rates of conjoined twins, teratomas, neural tube defects, microcephaly, and microphthalmia in the R ivne province of U kraine are among the highest in E urope. The province is 200 km distant from the C hornobyl site and its northern half, a region known as P olissia, is significantly polluted by ionizing radiation. The rates of neural tube defects, microcephaly and microphthalmia in P olissia are statistically significantly higher than in the rest of the province. A survey of at‐birth head size showed that values were statistically smaller in males and females born in one P olissia county than among neonates born in the capital city. These observations provide clues for confirmatory and cause‐effect prospective investigations. The strength of this study stems from a reliance on international standards prevalent in E urope and a decade‐long population‐based surveillance of congenital malformations in two distinct large populations. The limitations of this study, as those of other descriptive epidemiology investigations, is that identified cause‐effect associations require further assessment by specific prospective investigations designed to address specific teratogenic factors.