New Study Examines Cancer Risk in Swedish Counties Following Chernobyl Accident
A recent study conducted by researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden has analyzed the long-term effects of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident on the residents of nine counties in Sweden. The counties included in the study are Norrbotten, Dalarna, Södermanland, Jämtland, Västmanland, Gävleborg, Västerbotten, Uppsala, and Västernorrland.
The study focused on the presence of cesium-137 in the ground and its impact on residents’ health following the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope formed during nuclear fission and is found in the ground in Sweden due to fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s and 60s, as well as from the Chernobyl accident. The element can be transferred to humans through contaminated food and radiation from the ground.
Previous follow-ups had shown an increase in overall cancer rates linked to cesium-137 radiation from the ground. However, the most recent study used a dose calculation program to calculate radiation doses to various body organs from soil and food, offering more precise and detailed findings.
The results of the study revealed a slightly increased incidence of cancer in the colon, pancreas, and stomach in men, as well as a certain increase in lymph node cancer in women. Researchers emphasized that the increases were small and stress the importance of interpreting the results with caution.
Additionally, the study found that individuals who consume a significant amount of food from hunting, fishing, and berry picking may have higher cesium levels in their bodies. However, the study notes that it is difficult to determine whether this increased cesium exposure impacts cancer risk in these groups.
Lead researcher Martin Tondel emphasized the complexity of interpreting the results, stating that it is challenging to definitively attribute cancer risk to radiation exposure. The study, titled “Dose–response analysis of protracted absorbed organ dose and site-specific cancer incidence in Sweden after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident,” was published in Environmental Epidemiology.
The study’s results offer valuable insights into the long-term health effects of the Chernobyl accident on residents in the specified Swedish counties. However, researchers caution against overinterpreting the findings and stress the need for further research to explore the relationship between cesium-137 exposure and cancer risk. For related inquiries, readers can reach out to lead researcher Martin Tondel at [email protected].