Effects of incomplete residential histories on studies of environmental exposure with application to childhood leukaemia and background radiation.

Effects of incomplete residential histories on studies of environmental exposure with application to childhood leukaemia and background radiation. Environ Res. 2018 Jun 22;166:466-472 Authors: Nikkilä A, Kendall G, Raitanen J, Spycher B, Lohi O, Auvinen A Abstract When evaluating environmental exposures, residential exposures are often most relevant. In most countries, it is impossible to establish full residential histories. In recent publications, childhood leukaemia and background radiation have been studied with and without full residential histories. This paper investigates the consequences of lacking such full data. Data from a nationwide Finnish Case-Control study of Childhood Leukaemia and gamma rays were analysed. This included 1093 children diagnosed with leukaemia in Finland in 1990-2011. Each case was matched by gender and year of birth to three controls. Full residential histories were available. The dose estimates were based on outdoor background radiation measurements. The indoor dose rates were obtained with a dwelling type specific conversion coefficient and the individual time-weighted mean red bone marrow dose rates were calculated using age-specific indoor occupancy and the age and gender of the child. Radiation from Chernobyl fallout was included and a 2-year latency period assumed. The median separation between successive dwellings was 3.4 km and median difference in red bone marrow dose 2.9 nSv/h. The Pear...
Source: Environmental Research - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Environ Res Source Type: research