Creation of the database of the Ukraini an-American project «Reproductive effects of in utero exposure to chornobyl fallout in an iodine defi cient regions of Ukraine»

Abstract

As a result of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, a significant part of Ukraine’s population was exposed to radioactive iodine‑131. There is the substantial gap in knowledge concerning prenatal radiation exposure effects in the area of course and outcome of pregnancy and child development. This article presents a detailed description of the methodology of an epidemiological study of well-established cohort of 2582 in utero-exposed children and their mothers, with individual estimates of iodine‑131 thyroid dose. Cohort subjects lived in three regions of Ukraine, which are characterized by a mild-moderate iodine deficiency. We conducted a search and a retrospective review of cohort members’ prenatal, delivery and newborn records archived at the local medical facilities where participating mothers sought care. As a result, the database, counted information for 2001 mother-child pairs, was created. The principal objective of the analyses will be to examine the relationship between individual fetal thyroid I‑131 dose estimates and reproductive outcomes, as well as effects of dose by gestational age at exposure, maternal iodine status and others. The database provides a unique opportunity to contribute important information on possible adverse reproductive/developmental radiation effects in the event of environmental radiation releases.