Relevance of the chernobyl research for the evaluation of genetic radiation risks in humans

Abstract

The committee of the United Nations for the evaluation of radiation effects UNSCEAR up to now has derived a very low risk for hereditary diseases from experiments in mice. They claim that there are no human data to refer on, and missing effects in the Japanese A-bomb survivors are erroneously generalized for cases of chronic exposures. Vladimir A. Shevchenko criticized their estimates already soon after the Chernobyl accident (Shevchenko 1997). He stated that the main contribution of possible effects as many congenital malformations and all polygenic diseases were left out. He also demanded that the estimates must include the following generations until equilibrium of heritable defects is reached, while the committee considers only the first generation. Shevchenko referred to the rising rates in the Belarussian central registry for congenital anomalies after 1986 and emphasized the importance of biological dosimetry by cytogenetic analysis in order to receive realistic information about the population exposure. We made a compilation of findings about early deaths, congenital malformations, Down’s syndrome, cancer and other effects, which were observed in humans after exposure of parents. Few of them are available from occupationally exposed collectives, much information can be drawn from studies in populations exposed by Chernobyl fallout and from the descendants of liquidators. Nearly all types of hereditary defects were found, which are to be expected according to our general knowledge about it. It can clearly be shown that the official risk estimates are much too low.