Impact of Environmental Radiation on the Incidence of Cancer and Birth Defects in Regions with High Natural Radioactivity

Anastasia Zlobina, Iskhak Farkhutdinov, Fernando P. Carvalho, Nanping Wang, Tatiana Korotchenko, Natalia Baranovskaya and Anvar Farkhutdinov
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Anastasia Zlobina: Department of Geology, Hydrometeorology and Geoecology, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Tourism, Bashkir State University, 450074 Ufa, Russia
Iskhak Farkhutdinov: Scientific Department, Vernadsky State Geological Museum, 125009 Moscow, Russia
Fernando P. Carvalho: Instituto Superior Técnico, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, University of Lisbon, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
Nanping Wang: School of Geophysics and Geoinformation Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Tatiana Korotchenko: Engineering School of Natural Resources, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634030 Tomsk, Russia
Natalia Baranovskaya: Engineering School of Natural Resources, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634030 Tomsk, Russia
Anvar Farkhutdinov: Department of Geology, Hydrometeorology and Geoecology, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Tourism, Bashkir State University, 450074 Ufa, Russia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-20

Abstract: Four regions of high natural radioactivity were selected to assess radionuclide levels in rocks and soils, ambient radiation doses, radon exhalation from the ground, and radon concentrations in the air. The regions have different geochemical characteristics and radioactivity levels, which modulate the radiation exposure of local populations. Combining radiometric data with data from regional health statistics on non-infectious diseases, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between radiation exposure and the incidence of cancer and birth defects. Although this is a preliminary and prospective study, the empirical evidence gathered in this paper indicated increased the incidence of some diseases in relationship with the natural radiation background. It is suggested that further research, including epidemiological studies and direct determination of radiation exposures in regions with a high natural radiation background, is needed and justified.

Keywords: radon; uranium; thorium; HBRA; environmental radioactivity; epidemiological studies; lung cancer; leukemia; nasopharyngeal carcinoma (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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