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Calado AM, Seixas F, Pires MDA. Updating an Overview of Teratology. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2753:1-38. [PMID: 38285332 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3625-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
In this chapter, the authors aim to update an overview of the principles of teratology, beginning with the definition of teratology, the critical point at which this process occurs, and some of the most common etiological agents that improve our understanding of teratology.Modern teratology has greatly improved in recent years with advances in new methods in molecular biology, toxicology, animal laboratory science, and genetics, increasing our knowledge of ambient influences. Nevertheless, there is a lot to do to reduce the influence of hazardous intervening agents, whether they target our genetics or not, that can negatively affect pregnancy and induce congenital development disorders, including morphological, biochemical, or behavioral defects.Certain agents might indeed be related to certain defects, but we have not been able to identify the cause of most congenital defects, which highlights the importance of finding and testing out new genetics techniques and conducting laboratory animal science to unravel the etiology and pathogenicity of each congenital defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Calado
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4Animals), Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Seixas
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4Animals), Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria Dos Anjos Pires
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), UTAD, and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4Animals), Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
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Grech V. Divergences in sex ratio at birth in US Census Regions due to racial factors: chronic stress and female foeticide. Public Health 2023; 221:170-174. [PMID: 37473648 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The sex ratio of live births (males/total [M/T]) approximates 0.515. Many factors reduce M/T, and these include stress. Antenatal sexing is used for female foeticide in the setting of male offspring preference. Regional differences and latitude gradients in M/T also occur. This study analysed M/T in the US by Census Regions. STUDY DESIGN This was an ecological study. METHODS Live births by sex, Census region, state and mother's race were obtained from CDC Wonder (2007-2020). RESULTS There were 55,453,437 births (M/T 0.5116, 95% confidence interval: 0.5115-0.5118). M/T was Black/African American < Indian/Alaska Native American < White < Asian (P<<0.0001). M/T was significantly lowest in South and highest in West. The South had the lowest proportion of Asian/Pacific Islander births (3.9%) and the highest proportion of Black/African American (21.9%). West has the highest proportion of Asian/Pacific Islander (11.2%) and the lowest proportion of Black/African American births (5.3%). In Asian/Pacific Islander births, M/T significantly rose to third order and fell to sixth order births, unlike the other races that showed a decline from the first order. CONCLUSIONS Asian M/T may be elevated because of male offspring preference and selective female foeticide. M/T may be depressed in Black and American Indian/Alaskan births due to chronic stress, as race remains the most important factor associated with wealth inequality in the United States. The lower M/T of these two races when compared with White equates to a constant loss of 4.13 and 2.55/1000 male births. The higher Asian M implies a chronic loss of 3.78 females per 1000 births. Both have public health implications.
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Sperling K, Scherb H, Neitzel H. Population monitoring of trisomy 21: problems and approaches. Mol Cytogenet 2023; 16:6. [PMID: 37183244 PMCID: PMC10183086 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-023-00637-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is the most common autosomal aneuploidy among newborns. About 90% result from meiotic nondisjunction during oogenesis, which occurs around conception, when also the most profound epigenetic modifications take place. Thus, maternal meiosis is an error prone process with an extreme sensitivity to endogenous factors, as exemplified by maternal age. This contrasts with the missing acceptance of causal exogenous factors. The proof of an environmental agent is a great challenge, both with respect to ascertainment bias, determination of time and dosage of exposure, as well as registration of the relevant individual health data affecting the birth prevalence. Based on a few exemplary epidemiological studies the feasibility of trisomy 21 monitoring is illustrated. In the nearer future the methodical premises will be clearly improved, both due to the establishment of electronic health registers and to the introduction of non-invasive prenatal tests. Down syndrome is a sentinel phenotype, presumably also with regard to other congenital anomalies. Thus, monitoring of trisomy 21 offers new chances for risk avoidance and preventive measures, but also for basic research concerning identification of relevant genomic variants involved in chromosomal nondisjunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Sperling
- Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Hagen Scherb
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Heidemarie Neitzel
- Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
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Kappas C. Pregnancy and medical radiation. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.110478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Scherb H, Grech V. The secondary sex ratio in Italy over the past eighty years (1940 to 2019) and potential impact of radiological contamination after atmospheric nuclear testing and after Chernobyl: Temporal change-point analysis using Markov Chain Monte Carlo. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 100:137-142. [PMID: 33539902 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In Europe, the male to female ratio at birth (secondary sex ratio: SSR; sex odds: SO) is 1.04-1.06, is influenced by many factors and is declining in industrialized countries. This study was carried out to identify possible impacts of fallout by atomic bomb tests or by the Chernobyl event on SSR in Italy. Italy is a country without commercial nuclear power generation for the last four decades and thus nearly free of radiological confounders. Counts of annual male and female live births in Italy are provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT). This study included 57.7 million live births (1940-2019) with overall SSR 1.05829. The Italian SSR trend was modelled with linear and non-linear logistic regression. Trend changes, i.e., periods with level shifts were estimated with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). Two distinct idealized level shifts were identified superimposed on a uniform secular downward trend. The first one is seen towards the end of the 1960s with a jump sex odds ratio (SOR) 1.00681, p < 0.0001. The second one occurred in 1987 with SOR 1.00474, p < 0.0001. In each of the 3 periods separated by the two jumps, SSR uniformly decreased with trend SOR per 100 years of 0.98549, p < 0.0001. In conclusion, the secular trend in the Italian SSR showed two marked level shifts, at the end of the 1960s and from 1987 onward. These follow the release of radioactivity by atmospheric atomic bomb tests during the 1960s and by Chernobyl in 1986 and corroborate the hypothesis that ionizing radiation increases SSR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Scherb
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, D-87564, Neuherberg, Germany.
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Scherb H, Grech V. Trends in births and the birth sex ratio in the vicinity of the Mainz research reactor in Germany. Early Hum Dev 2020; 141:104869. [PMID: 31540741 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.104869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The human sex ratio or sex odds at birth (M/F) are influenced by many factors. Radiation is the only stressor known to elevate the ratio while dropping total births. The Mainz research nuclear reactor (FRMZ) underwent extensive refurbishment commencing in 1992 and with further upgrading in 2011. This study was carried out in order to investigate any possible effects of these events on M/F. METHODS Annual municipality-specific births by sex were obtained from official government sources. Statistical methods used included ordinary linear logistic regression and Poisson regression. RESULTS M/F rose significantly in 1993 only close to the FRMZ (<10 km) with sex odds ratio (SOR) 1.023 (p = 0.0074) and this rise was associated with numerically equivalent drops in male births of 4.01% (p = 0.0251) and female births of 6.17% (p = 0.0005). No such effects were seen beyond 10 km. DISCUSSION These findings add to the corpus of evidence that man-made radiation may have significant effects on total births and on M/F with a skew toward male births. While the authors are certain that suitable precautions were taken when the reactor in Mainz was handled, the findings imply that these may not have been sufficient. Perhaps even greater care and even more stringent precautions need to be employed when dealing with radioactive elements. It clearly behoves humanity to exercise extreme caution when handling, processing, and storing radioactive materials and waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Scherb
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Computational Biology, Germany
| | - Victor Grech
- Academic Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta.
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Abstract
This paper reviews the classical theories that attempted to explain the influences on the sex ratio at birth (M/F). These included notions pertaining to the four elements (earth, air, fire and water) and to laterality i.e. from which side of the body (in both parents) the conceptual principle arose. This narrative will also outline the initial physical measurements of male and female births and speculations by John Graunt (1620-1674), John Arbuthnott (1667-1735) and Johann Süssmilch (1707-1767), as well as the conundrums that M/F presented to Charles Darwin (1809-1882) and the theories of Ronald Fisher (1890-1962) who expanded on concepts first promulgated by Nicolas de Caritat, Marquis de Condorcet (1743-1794). Fortunately, the thousands of papers generated on topic, especially the more recent work pertaining to direct and measurable influences (such as exogenous stress periconceptually and during pregnancy) have begun to yield some concrete findings, indeed, "among this welter of evidence, it is possible to pin down a few facts" such that "we have found ourselves following Ariadne's thread to a series of clues that bind the calculation of the proportion of boys and girls at birth".
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Scherb H, Kusmierz R, Voigt K. Secondary sex ratio and trends in the associated gender-specific births near nuclear facilities in France and Germany: Update of birth counts. Reprod Toxicol 2019; 89:159-167. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Mu H, Sun J, Li L, Yin J, Hu N, Zhao W, Ding D, Yi L. Ionizing radiation exposure: hazards, prevention, and biomarker screening. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:15294-15306. [PMID: 29705904 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2097-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Radiation is a form of energy derived from a source that is propagated through material in space. It consists of ionizing radiation or nonionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is a feature of the environment and an important tool in medical treatment, but it can cause serious damage to organisms. A number of protective measures and standards of protection have been proposed to protect against radiation. There is also a need for biomarkers to rapidly assess individual doses of radiation, which can not only estimate the dose of radiation but also determine its effects on health. Proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics have been widely used in the search for such biomarkers. These topics are discussed in depth in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Mu
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, College of pharmaceutical and biological science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Sun
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, College of pharmaceutical and biological science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Linwei Li
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, College of pharmaceutical and biological science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Yin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, College of pharmaceutical and biological science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Hu
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Weichao Zhao
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Dexin Ding
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lan Yi
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, College of pharmaceutical and biological science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China.
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China.
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Abstract
In this chapter, we provide an overview of the basic principles of teratology, beginning with its definition, the critical point for teratogenesis to occur and the most evident etiological agents to improve the understanding of this science.Teratology is a recent science that began in the early twentieth century, and has greatly improved over the recent years with the advancements in molecular biology, toxicology, animal laboratory science, and genetics, as well as the improvement on the knowledge of the environmental influences.Nevertheless, more work is required to reduce the influence of hazardous products that could be deleterious during pregnancy, thus reducing teratogenic defects in the newborn. While some teratogenic defects are attributed to their agents with certainty, the same for a lot of other such defects is lacking, necessitating consistent studies to decipher the influence of various teratogenic agents on their corresponding teratogenic defects. It is here that the laboratory animal science is of great importance both in the present and in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Calado
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria Dos Anjos Pires
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal. .,Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
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Eslami J, Mortazavi G, Mortazavi SAR. Ionizing Radiation and Human Gender Proportion at Birth: A Concise Review of the Literature and A Complementary Analysis of Historical and Recent Data. J Biomed Phys Eng 2017; 7:315-316. [PMID: 29445710 PMCID: PMC5809926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Eslami
- Anesthesiology Department, School of Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gh Mortazavi
- Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - S A R Mortazavi
- Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Abstract
The human sex ratio (proportion male) at birth (SRB) varies with many variables. Some of this variation has an established proximate cause. For instance, low SRB (more females) at birth are associated with various forms of stressful events or circumstances during or prior to pregnancy. These low SRB are almost certainly mainly caused by maternal-stress-induced male foetal loss. Other types of SRB variation are thought to be caused by hormonal variation in either or both parents around the time of conception. One or other of these two types of proximate cause seems to be responsible for most of the established variation of SRB. This will be illustrated here in respect of some selected forms of SRB variation. It seems likely that a clarification of the hormonal causes of SRB variation will also help explain the striking (apparent) inconsistencies in the results of reported tests of the influential Trivers-Willard hypothesis. It is further proposed that an appreciation of the evidence that parental hormones influence SRB may enhance understanding of several important pathologies (hepatitis B, toxoplasmosis, testicular cancer, prostate cancer and autism).
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Affiliation(s)
- William H James
- The Galton Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Victor Grech
- Department of Paediatrics, Mater Dei Hospital Medical School, Malta.
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Grech V, Zammit D. The President Kennedy assassination and the male to female birth ratio. Early Hum Dev 2016; 103:119-121. [PMID: 27572455 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2016.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Male live births occur slightly in excess of female. This ratio is expressed as M/F. Terrorist attacks induce stress which transiently lowers M/F three to five months later due to increased male foetal losses. A previous study had shown that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963 was associated with a significant dip in M/F in the United States for 1964 due to a dip confined to March 1964. This study was carried out in order to ascertain whether the assassination influenced M/F in the rest of the world. METHODS Annual male and female live births were obtained from a World Health Organisation Mortality database for all countries reporting. Comparisons were made between 1964, the year after the assassination, and the preceding five years (1959-1963) and following five years (1965-1969). Monthly data was only available for Malta, for the period 1958-1968. RESULTS There were 159,339,564 live births (82,066,005 males, 77,273,559 females, M/F 0.5150; 95% CI 0.5150-0.5151). No dip was present for 1964 for any country, nor for the amalgamation of European countries, for the Far East, the North American continent, or for the amalgamation of the total. Data for Malta showed a significant decline in March 1964 (M/F 0.4661, p=0.0175), translating to a loss of 56 boys (estimated at 6.3/1000 births). DISCUSSION These findings replicate the findings for the United States following the assassination of President Kennedy. The March M/F dip transiently exceeded the modern expected rate for perinatal mortality, making terrorist attacks Public Health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Grech
- Academic Department of Paediatrics, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Scherb
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Computational Biology, Ingolstädter. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/icb/institute/staff/staff/ma/2476/index.html
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Körblein A. Human sex ratio at birth after atmospheric weapons testing. Early Hum Dev 2016; 100:33-4. [PMID: 27393867 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Scherb HH, Mori K, Hayashi K. Increases in perinatal mortality in prefectures contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan: A spatially stratified longitudinal study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e4958. [PMID: 27661055 PMCID: PMC5044925 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000004958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Descriptive observational studies showed upward jumps in secular European perinatal mortality trends after Chernobyl. The question arises whether the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident entailed similar phenomena in Japan. For 47 prefectures representing 15.2 million births from 2001 to 2014, the Japanese government provides monthly statistics on 69,171 cases of perinatal death of the fetus or the newborn after 22 weeks of pregnancy to 7 days after birth. Employing change-point methodology for detecting alterations in longitudinal data, we analyzed time trends in perinatal mortality in the Japanese prefectures stratified by exposure to estimate and test potential increases in perinatal death proportions after Fukushima possibly associated with the earthquake, the tsunami, or the estimated radiation exposure. Areas with moderate to high levels of radiation were compared with less exposed and unaffected areas, as were highly contaminated areas hit versus untroubled by the earthquake and the tsunami. Ten months after the earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent nuclear accident, perinatal mortality in 6 severely contaminated prefectures jumped up from January 2012 onward: jump odds ratio 1.156; 95% confidence interval (1.061, 1.259), P-value 0.0009. There were slight increases in areas with moderate levels of contamination and no increases in the rest of Japan. In severely contaminated areas, the increases of perinatal mortality 10 months after Fukushima were essentially independent of the numbers of dead and missing due to the earthquake and the tsunami. Perinatal mortality in areas contaminated with radioactive substances started to increase 10 months after the nuclear accident relative to the prevailing and stable secular downward trend. These results are consistent with findings in Europe after Chernobyl. Since observational studies as the one presented here may suggest but cannot prove causality because of unknown and uncontrolled factors or confounders, intensified research in various scientific disciplines is urgently needed to better qualify and quantify the association of natural and artificial environmental radiation with detrimental genetic health effects at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Heinrich Scherb
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Computational Biology, Neuherberg, Germany Higashiosaka Health Center 4-3-22 Iwatachou, Higashiosakacity Hayashi Children's Clinic, Osaka, Japan
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Scherb H, Kusmierz R, Voigt K. Human sex ratio at birth and residential proximity to nuclear facilities in France. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 60:104-11. [PMID: 26880420 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The possible detrimental genetic impact on humans living in the vicinity of nuclear facilities has been previously studied. We found evidence for an increase in the human secondary sex ratio (sex odds) within distances of up to 35km from nuclear facilities in Germany and Switzerland. Here, we extend our pilot investigations using new comprehensive data from France. The French data (1968-2011) account for 36,565 municipalities with 16,968,701 male and 16,145,925 female births. The overall sex ratio was 1.0510. Using linear and nonlinear logistic regression models with dummy variables coding for appropriately grouped municipalities, operation time periods, and corresponding spatiotemporal interactions, we consider the association between annual municipality-level birth sex ratios and minimum distances of municipalities from nuclear facilities. Within 35km from 28 nuclear sites in France, the sex ratio is increased relative to the rest of France with a sex odds ratio (SOR) of 1.0028, (95% CI: 1.0007, 1.0049). The detected association between municipalities' minimum distances from nuclear facilities and the sex ratio in France corroborates our findings for Germany and Switzerland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Scherb
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Computational Biology, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Ralf Kusmierz
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Computational Biology, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Kristina Voigt
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Computational Biology, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
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