Children of Chernobyl cleaners at risk
Children of the people who
cleaned up the Chernobyl reactor
after a core meltdown in
1986 (liquidators) are 600%
more likely to have a genetic
mutation compared with siblings
born before the nuclear
accident, according to research
published by the Royal Society
last month (Prac R Soc Lond
2001;268:1001-5).
DNA analysis of children
whose fathers were involved in
the clean up operation showed a
sevenfold increase in brand new
point mutations compared with
the children of men unaffected
by radiation. Children who were
born to the same men before
their involvement in the Chernobyl
incident were used as
internal controls and showed
the same levels of mutation as
those born in uncontaminated
regions of the Ukraine.
(EPA/VICTOR DRACHEV/AFP)
Until now, it has not been
shown that exposure to low dose
radiation causes inheritable
changes in germ cells, as large
sample sizes are needed and
widespread radiation exposure
is rare. This demonstration of
unexpectedly high mutation
rates resulting from parental
exposure to ionising radiation
raises concerns about an occupational
hazard for workers who
are exposed to low levels. Previous
claims that such exposure is
hazardous to future children of
nuclear workers have been dismissed
by the industry.
Siān Knight, Nottingham
studentBMJ 2001;09:171-216 June ISSN 0966-6494
