Ischemic heart disease in workers at Mayak PA: latency of incidence risk after radiation exposure

PLoS One. 2014 May 14;9(5):e96309. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096309. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

We present an updated analysis of incidence and mortality from atherosclerotic induced ischemic heart diseases in the cohort of workers at the Mayak Production Association (PA). This cohort constitutes one of the most important sources for the assessment of radiation risk. It is exceptional because it comprises information on several other risk factors. While most of the workers have been exposed to external gamma radiation, a large proportion has additionally been exposed to internal radiation from inhaled plutonium. Compared to a previous study by Azizova et al. 2012, the updated dosimetry system MWDS-2008 has been applied and methods of analysis have been revised. We extend the analysis of the significant incidence risk and observe that main detrimental effects of external radiation exposure occur after more than about 30 years. For mortality, significant risk was found in males with an excess relative risk per dose of 0.09 (95% CI: 0.02; 0.16) [Formula: see text] while risk was insignificant for females. With respect to internal radiation exposure no association to risk could be established.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Coronary Artery Disease / epidemiology*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / etiology
  • Coronary Artery Disease / mortality
  • Coronary Artery Disease / pathology
  • Extraction and Processing Industry*
  • Female
  • Gamma Rays / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Ischemia / epidemiology*
  • Myocardial Ischemia / etiology
  • Myocardial Ischemia / mortality
  • Myocardial Ischemia / pathology
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology
  • Occupational Diseases / mortality
  • Occupational Diseases / pathology
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Plutonium / administration & dosage
  • Plutonium / adverse effects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Russia / epidemiology
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Plutonium

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a project of the Federal Office of Radiation Protection (contract 3611S30022) and by the EU project ProCardio (contract number 295823). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.