TY - JOUR
T1 - Cesium-137 contaminated roads and health problems in residents
T2 - An epidemiological investigation in Seoul, 2011
AU - Ha, Mina
AU - Ju, Young Su
AU - Lee, Won Jin
AU - Hwang, Seung sik
AU - Yoo, Sang Chul
AU - Choi, Kyung Hwa
AU - Burm, Eunae
AU - Lee, Jieon
AU - Lee, Yun Keun
AU - Im, Sanghyuk
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Background: In 2011, two roads in a residential area in Seoul were found to be contaminated with the radionuclide cesium-137 (137Cs). In response to public concerns, an epidemiological study was conducted. Methods: The standardized cancer incidence ratios in the affected and neighboring regions were calculated based on the central cancer registry. Households in the region were sampled using the random stratified sampling technique, and questionnaires were administered to family members, via home visit and via students in elementary to high schools. Information on duration of residency and frequency of use of the roads was applied to calculate cumulative radiation exposure dose from the roads, alongside with the reported 137Cs contamination amounts. Information on past medical history, perceived risk, anxiety and psychological stress was also obtained. Of the 31,053 residents, 8,875 were analyzed. To examine possible associations between radiation exposure and health problems, logistic regression adjusted for covariates were performed with consideration of the sampling design, population weight and stratification. Results: No significant association was found between self-informed diseases, including cancers, and estimated radiation exposure dose. According to an increase of radiation level, a significant increase in anxiety in all and a decline in the psychosocial wellbeing of the adults was noted. The risk perception level was higher in the elderly, females, the less educated, and the highest exposed individuals. Conclusion: This study provides a basis for risk communication with residents and community environmental health policy.
AB - Background: In 2011, two roads in a residential area in Seoul were found to be contaminated with the radionuclide cesium-137 (137Cs). In response to public concerns, an epidemiological study was conducted. Methods: The standardized cancer incidence ratios in the affected and neighboring regions were calculated based on the central cancer registry. Households in the region were sampled using the random stratified sampling technique, and questionnaires were administered to family members, via home visit and via students in elementary to high schools. Information on duration of residency and frequency of use of the roads was applied to calculate cumulative radiation exposure dose from the roads, alongside with the reported 137Cs contamination amounts. Information on past medical history, perceived risk, anxiety and psychological stress was also obtained. Of the 31,053 residents, 8,875 were analyzed. To examine possible associations between radiation exposure and health problems, logistic regression adjusted for covariates were performed with consideration of the sampling design, population weight and stratification. Results: No significant association was found between self-informed diseases, including cancers, and estimated radiation exposure dose. According to an increase of radiation level, a significant increase in anxiety in all and a decline in the psychosocial wellbeing of the adults was noted. The risk perception level was higher in the elderly, females, the less educated, and the highest exposed individuals. Conclusion: This study provides a basis for risk communication with residents and community environmental health policy.
KW - Cs
KW - Epidemiological investigation
KW - Health effects
KW - Radionuclide contamination
KW - Risk perception
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042505660&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e58
DO - 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e58
M3 - Article
C2 - 29441737
AN - SCOPUS:85042505660
SN - 1011-8934
VL - 33
JO - Journal of Korean medical science
JF - Journal of Korean medical science
IS - 9
M1 - e58
ER -