This paper presents an analysis of data of the Russian National Medical and Dosimetric Registry on the incidence of leukaemia among 155 680 male Chernobyl accident emergency workers (EWs) who were resident in the Russian Federation (RF) for the period from 1986 to the end of 1993. The system of collection and verification of data on leukaemia is described. 48 cases of leukaemia among EWs were identified in 1986 - 1993. The principal analysis includes 34 leukaemia cases occurring more than two years after first exposure. The analysis was carried out for all leukaemia and leukaemia excluding chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), separately. Distributions of leukaemia cases by age, time of diagnosis since entry into the Chernobyl zone, radiation dose, date of entry into the Chernobyl zone, duration of stay in the region of Chernobyl were calculated. To evaluate leukaemia risks associated with various factors the case - control methodology was used. Radiation dose, date of entry into the zone, duration of stay in the zone were used as risk factors. No significant associations between leukaemia risks and the investigated factors were found. Calculation of the standardised registration ratios (SRR) revealed a significant increase in the registration of leukaemia among all EWs (SRR = 205, 95% confidence interval (CI) 136 - 297) and the EWs arriving in the zone during 1986 - 1987 (SRR = 200, 95% CI: 127 - 300) compared with the general male population of the RF in 1991 - 1993. However, raised SRRs may be accounted for by the differences in medical screening in the compared populations, particularly the efforts made to identify leukaemia cases among the EWs. The absence of a dose-related trend for leukaemia indicates that this explanation is likely to be correct.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ivanov et al. (1997) studied this question.