Elevated congenital anomaly rates and incorporated cesium‐137 in the Polissia region of Ukraine

ConclusionNTD and M/M rates are highest in the Polissia region of Rivne and are among the highest in Europe. In Polissia, the WBCs of Cs‐137 are above officially set permissible upper limits. The results are based on aggregate data of NTDs and M/Ms and average WBC values. Further investigations of causality of the high rates of NTDs and M/Ms are needed and urgent strengthening policies and implementations to reduce exposures to teratogens, in particular radioactive nuclides and alcohol, and consumption of folic acid supplements are indicated. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Source: Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology - January 1, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Wladimir Wertelecki, Alfred Koerblein, Bogdana Ievtushok, Nataliya Zymak‐Zakutnia, Oleksandr Komov, Illia Kuznietsov, Serhiy Lapchenko, Zoriana Sosyniuk Tags: Original Research Article Source Type: research