CANCER RISKS IN THE KALUGA OBLAST OF THE RUSSIAN-FEDERATION 10 YEARS AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

Cancer morbidity and mortality were studied in areas of the Kaluga obl ast contaminated with radionuclides. The main objective of the study w as to assess the influence of radiation exposure on existing levels of cancer morbidity and mortality. Time trends and relative population r isks were analysed. Based on this analysis, it was concluded that the current levels of morbidity from cancers among the populations residin g in the studied areas were primarily a result of a complex of factors which predated the exposure from the Chernobyl accident. However, the re seems to be an unfavourable trend concerning malignant neoplasms of the respiratory organs for women residing in the contaminated areas. To date, no statistically significant effect of radiation on cancer mo rbidity (except for thyroid cancer in women) has been noted. The level s of cancer morbidity and mortality in the contaminated areas generall y reflect the changes in cancer incidence in the oblast as a whole. Th e findings are consistent with international data on latent periods fo r the induction of radiogenic cancers and the biological effects for s imilar levels of exposure to populations residing in contaminated terr itories. Further studies are necessary in order to monitor possible ef fects that are related to the accident.