Original article
Frequency of trisomy 21 in Germany before and after the Chernobyl accident

https://doi.org/10.1016/0753-3322(91)90026-PGet rights and content

Abstract

For Berlin (West) the rate of trisomy 21 among newborn and all prenatally diagnosed cases can be almost completely recorded, including the maternal age distribution. During the 9-year-period from 1980 to 1988 the average number of trisomy 21 per month was about 2, following a Poisson distribution. A significant increase (P < 0.01) was observed in January 1987, exactly 9 months after the Chernobyl accident. In a supraregional study based on > 30 000 prenatal diagnoses performed in 1986, no significant effect could be observed. However, the highest rates of trisomy 21 were observed in the more heavily contaminated, southern part of Germany. The majority of these fetuses were conceived during the period of greatest radioactive exposure. The data are discussed with respect to the effect of low-dose radiation around the time of conception on the induction of non-disjunction in man.

Résumé

Fréquence de la trisomie 21 en Allemagne avant et après l'accident de Tchernobyl. Il est possible à Berlin (Ouest) d'enregistrer de manière quasi-exhaustive le taux de trisomie 21 parmi les nouveau-nés, ainsi que tous les cas diagnostiqués en prénatal, avec la distribution de l'âge maternel. Au cours de la période de neuf ans, 1980–1988, le nombre moyen mensuel de trisomies 21 se situait aux environs de 2, selon une distribution de Poisson. Une augmentation significative a été observée en janvier 1987, neuf mois exactement après l'accident de Tchernobyl. Dans une étude suprar 'egionale portant sur plus de 30 000 diagnostics prénataux posés en 1986, aucun effet significatif n'a pu être observé. Néanmoins, les taux les plus élevés de trisomie 21 ont été observés dans le sud de l'Allemagne, précisément la partie la plus fortement contaminée. Pour la majorité de ces fatus, la conception était intervenue au cours de la période de plus forte exposition à la radioactivité. Ces données sont discutées à la lumière de ce que l'on connaît des effets d'un rayonnement à faible dose, appliqué aux environs de la date de conception, sur l'induction d'une non-disjonction chez l'homme.

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