Evaluation of the impact of Chernobyl on the prevalence of congenital anomalies in 16 regions of Europe. EUROCAT Working Group.
BACKGROUND
Surveillance data from population-based congenital anomaly registers in 16 regions of Europe (mainly Western Europe) were analysed to assess the impact of the Chernobyl accident on the prevalence of selected congenital anomalies.


METHODS
Three cohorts of pregnancies were defined: those exposed during the first month following Chernobyl (External Exposure Cohort), the first year (Total Exposure Cohort) and the two subsequent years (Control Cohort). Expected numbers of congenital anomalies in these cohorts were calculated from 1980-1985 baseline rates. Registries were grouped into three exposure categories according to first-year exposure estimates.


RESULTS
There was no overall or dose-related increase in prevalence in the two exposed cohorts for Down's Syndrome, neural tube defects, other central nervous system defects or eye defects. There was a statistically significant overall 22% (95% CI: 13-31%) excess of Down's Syndrome in the Control Cohort, with no dose-response relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Chernobyl had no detectable impact on the prevalence of congenital anomalies in Western Europe, suggesting that in retrospect the widespread fear in the population about the possible effects of exposure on the unborn fetus was not justified. An increasing prevalence of Down's Syndrome in the 1980s, probably unrelated to Chernobyl, merits further investigation.
Dolk
H
H
Environmental Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. h.dolk@lshtm.ac.uk
Nichols
R
R
D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D015995:Prevalence; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014455:Ukraine
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive