Risk factors of depression after prolonged low-dose rate environmental radiation exposure.
OBJECTIVE
More than 10,000 Taiwanese people were exposed to excessive protracted low-dose rate radiation from contaminated reinforcement bars, which were installed in buildings before 1992. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of depression amongst the exposed and identify related determinants now that more than two decades have passed since this population was informed of their exposure to radiation.


METHODS
We used the Beck depression inventory (BDI)-1A questionnaire to survey 2143 eligible people during their annual physical examinations between March 2009 and December 2009. In total, 1621 people participated in the survey. We employed multivariate logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations method to identify the determinants of depression.


RESULTS
The prevalence of depression (BDI-IA score ≥ 12) was 18.7%. Those who exhibited higher cumulative exposure [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-2.07] and a previous history of depression (adjusted OR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.36-4.58) were significantly associated with the risk of depression, whereas education level was inversely related to depression (adjusted OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.50-0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term, low-dose rate radiation exposure early in life might cause subsequent psychological stress and an increased risk of depression decades later.
Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University , Taipei.
Pimei Nancy
PN
Yen
I-Feng
IF
Lin
Wushou Peter
WP
Chang
Jung-Der
JD
Wang
Tien-Chun
TC
Chang
Kuan-Liang
KL
Kuo
Jing-Shiang
JS
Hwang
I-Chao
IC
Liu
Yi-Ting
YT
Chen
Chen-Chang
CC
Yang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes
Epidemiology; health surveillance; ionizing radiation; low-dose effects; mental health; stress