At this time, no other data on population-based birth defects in Ukraine are known. This research suggests that population-based rates may reflect impacts of low-dose radiation.
In the study, Dr. Wertelecki focused on the Ukraine province of Rivne, located about 155 miles from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Dr. Wertelecki found that some serious anomalies were higher than Europe’s average. In Rivne, 22 of every 10,000 babies were born with a neural tube defect, compared with nine of every 10,000 babies in Europe.
The findings were reported in the current issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
To view the full article (using USA Library online access) , visit http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/125/4/e836 .
