Publications exaggerating Chernobyl consequences: some examples
After the Chernobyl accident appeared many publications
overestimating its medical consequences. There follow several examples,
published in Swiss Medical Weekly. All articles are available online: http://www.smw.ch/dfe/index.html
Twenty Chernobyl cleanup workers (the so-called liquidators) with
respiratory symptoms were studied [1]. No radiation doses were known;
cause-effect relationship between inhalation of radioactive dust and the
symptoms is not proven but presented as a self-evident fact, which is a
logical fallacy known as false premise. Smoking, the most significant
etiologic factor of bronchitis, is not mentioned at all. Moreover, it is
stated that macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contained
phagolysosomes “with so-called elements of Chernobyl dust: Sr, Zr, I, Cs,
Np, Pu, Am, Cm” with reference to an experimental study [2] irrelevant to
the Chernobyl theme. The authors [6] measured neither the content of these
elements in the lavage fluid nor its radioactivity. Nonetheless it is
concluded that long-term persistence of the radionuclides in the lungs “is
likely to play a role in the origin of local anatomical and functional
disorders” [1].
Another example is provided by the article [3]. According to the
Patients and Methods section, 94 children in a sanatorium were subdivided
into 3 groups after the 137Cs activity concentration measured in their
bodies. The term “radio-contamination” was used but considering the units
(Bq/kg body weight) the activity concentration was probably meant. The
following figures are given in the article: 1st cohort (33 children) -
activity concentration was below 5 Bq/kg body weight; 2nd cohort (31
children) - 38,4 ± 2,4 Bq/kg; 3rd cohort (30 children) - 122 ± 18,5 Bq/kg.
It is not indicated, which value stands after the ± sign, a standard
deviation or a standard error of the mean, but in both cases these figures
could not have resulted from a subdivision of a single population: the
difference between the 2nd and the 3rd cohort is extremely significant
(P<0.001), whereas the difference between the 1st and the 2nd cohorts
(<5 vs. 38,4 ± 2,4) is almost absolute, which is unimaginable in an
arbitrarily subdivided population. Statistically significant differences
between the groups were found also in regard to cardio-vascular symptoms,
unusual in children, such as arterial hypertension and alterations of the
electrocardiogram (ECG). The treatment with the apple pectin significantly
reduced 137Cs contents in the children’s bodies and was associated with
ECG improvement. It should be commented that, according to the IAEA [4],
137Cs activity concentration in milk from contaminated areas (the main
alimentary exposure source especially for children), has been below the
permissible level since 1996 at the latest. The study was performed in
2003. Moreover, the 137Cs-lowering treatment with apple pectin appears
senseless in a sanatorium, where children are supposed to receive food
with no elevation of radionuclide content.
In the previous publication with participation of the same authors
[5], a teaspoon of diluted apple pectin given twice a day to the children
living in a sanatorium, was reported to reduce the “137Cs level in
children“ by 62 % , P-value being not only below 0.01, as it is indicated
in the article, but in fact below 0.0001 (paired t-test, calculated on the
basis of the figures from the article [5] using the software GraphPad
InStat, Copyright 1992-1998 GraphPad Software). The extremely significant
difference and, correspondingly, pronounced 137Cs-lowering effect of the
apple pectin appears doubtful because, to assure reliability of the data
by the low pectin doses given to the children, consumption of apples and
other pectin-containing fruit should have been strictly monitored, which
is not mentioned in the article. Characteristically, apart from one
Russian-language publication (the title of which is written in German for
unknown reason), no literature sources about the pectin methods are
quoted. Another reference (Korzum VN. Nutrition problems under wide-scale
nuclear accident conditions and its consequences. Internat J Radiation Med
1999;2:75–91; in the text of the article the author’s name is spelled
„Korsum“) was not found in spite of extensive search and represents
obviously a misquoting.
Finally, a mini-review [6] on the topic of radiation-induced
mutagenesis should be mentioned. No measured radiation doses and no number
of cases are given. Levels of significance are given only occasionally;
and figures with unknown levels of significance are used in argumentation.
For example, a negative correlation between the germline mutation rate and
paternal year of birth in inhabitants of Semipalatinsk area is stated
without giving the correlation coefficient value, its level of
significance and number of correlation pairs. According to the form of the
diagram depicted on the Fig. 2 in the article [6], this correlation is
probably insignificant. Nonetheless, extensive discussion is led on its
basis: “this correlation provides the first experimental evidence for
change in human germline mutation rate with declining exposure to ionizing
radiation and therefore shows that the Moscow treaty banning nuclear
weapon tests in the atmosphere (August 1963) has been effective in
reducing genetic risk to affected population” [6]. On the whole this
review, similarly to other analogous publications, does not provide
significant information but creates impression about high rate of
radiation-induced abnormalities in Chernobyl and Semipalatinsk areas. It
should be noted in conclusion that Chernobyl hysteria has impeded nuclear
power production in many countries and contributed to high energy prices.
References:
1. Chuchalin AG, Maracheva AV, Grobova OM, Cherniaev AL, Antonov NS,
Kalmanova EN, Dmitrov EV, Voisin C. Lungs exposed to nuclear catastrophe:
one-year therapeutic programme in Chernobyl liquidators group. Swiss Med
Wkly 1997;127:165-9.
2. Mueller HL, Drosselmeyer E, Hotz G, Seidel A, Thiele H, Pickering
S. Behaviour of spherical and irregular (U,Pu)O2 particles after
inhalation or intratracheal instillation in rat lung and during in vitro
culture with bovine alveolar macrophages. Int J Radiat Biol. 1989;55:829-
42.
3. Bandazhevskaya GS, Nesterenko VB, Babenko VI, Yerkovich TV,
Bandazhevsky YI. Relationship between caesium (137Cs) load, cardiovascular
symptoms, and source of food in 'Chernobyl' children - preliminary
observations after intake of oral apple pectin. Swiss Med Wkly
2004;134:725-9.
4. IAEA (2006) Chernobyl’s Legacy: Health, Environmental and Socio-
Economic Impacts and Recommendations to the Governments of Belarus, the
Russian Federation and Ukraine. IAEA, Vienna, p. 24-25
5. Nesterenko VB, Nesterenko AV, Babenko VI, Yerkovich TV, Babenko
IV. Reducing the 137Cs-load in the organism of "Chernobyl" children with
apple-pectin. Swiss Med Wkly 2004;134:24-7.
6. Dubrova YE. Monitoring of radiation-induced germline mutation in
humans. Swiss Med Wkly 2003; 133:474-8.
Rapid Response:
Publications exaggerating Chernobyl consequences: some examples
After the Chernobyl accident appeared many publications
overestimating its medical consequences. There follow several examples,
published in Swiss Medical Weekly. All articles are available online:
http://www.smw.ch/dfe/index.html
Twenty Chernobyl cleanup workers (the so-called liquidators) with
respiratory symptoms were studied [1]. No radiation doses were known;
cause-effect relationship between inhalation of radioactive dust and the
symptoms is not proven but presented as a self-evident fact, which is a
logical fallacy known as false premise. Smoking, the most significant
etiologic factor of bronchitis, is not mentioned at all. Moreover, it is
stated that macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contained
phagolysosomes “with so-called elements of Chernobyl dust: Sr, Zr, I, Cs,
Np, Pu, Am, Cm” with reference to an experimental study [2] irrelevant to
the Chernobyl theme. The authors [6] measured neither the content of these
elements in the lavage fluid nor its radioactivity. Nonetheless it is
concluded that long-term persistence of the radionuclides in the lungs “is
likely to play a role in the origin of local anatomical and functional
disorders” [1].
Another example is provided by the article [3]. According to the
Patients and Methods section, 94 children in a sanatorium were subdivided
into 3 groups after the 137Cs activity concentration measured in their
bodies. The term “radio-contamination” was used but considering the units
(Bq/kg body weight) the activity concentration was probably meant. The
following figures are given in the article: 1st cohort (33 children) -
activity concentration was below 5 Bq/kg body weight; 2nd cohort (31
children) - 38,4 ± 2,4 Bq/kg; 3rd cohort (30 children) - 122 ± 18,5 Bq/kg.
It is not indicated, which value stands after the ± sign, a standard
deviation or a standard error of the mean, but in both cases these figures
could not have resulted from a subdivision of a single population: the
difference between the 2nd and the 3rd cohort is extremely significant
(P<0.001), whereas the difference between the 1st and the 2nd cohorts
(<5 vs. 38,4 ± 2,4) is almost absolute, which is unimaginable in an
arbitrarily subdivided population. Statistically significant differences
between the groups were found also in regard to cardio-vascular symptoms,
unusual in children, such as arterial hypertension and alterations of the
electrocardiogram (ECG). The treatment with the apple pectin significantly
reduced 137Cs contents in the children’s bodies and was associated with
ECG improvement. It should be commented that, according to the IAEA [4],
137Cs activity concentration in milk from contaminated areas (the main
alimentary exposure source especially for children), has been below the
permissible level since 1996 at the latest. The study was performed in
2003. Moreover, the 137Cs-lowering treatment with apple pectin appears
senseless in a sanatorium, where children are supposed to receive food
with no elevation of radionuclide content.
In the previous publication with participation of the same authors
[5], a teaspoon of diluted apple pectin given twice a day to the children
living in a sanatorium, was reported to reduce the “137Cs level in
children“ by 62 % , P-value being not only below 0.01, as it is indicated
in the article, but in fact below 0.0001 (paired t-test, calculated on the
basis of the figures from the article [5] using the software GraphPad
InStat, Copyright 1992-1998 GraphPad Software). The extremely significant
difference and, correspondingly, pronounced 137Cs-lowering effect of the
apple pectin appears doubtful because, to assure reliability of the data
by the low pectin doses given to the children, consumption of apples and
other pectin-containing fruit should have been strictly monitored, which
is not mentioned in the article. Characteristically, apart from one
Russian-language publication (the title of which is written in German for
unknown reason), no literature sources about the pectin methods are
quoted. Another reference (Korzum VN. Nutrition problems under wide-scale
nuclear accident conditions and its consequences. Internat J Radiation Med
1999;2:75–91; in the text of the article the author’s name is spelled
„Korsum“) was not found in spite of extensive search and represents
obviously a misquoting.
Finally, a mini-review [6] on the topic of radiation-induced
mutagenesis should be mentioned. No measured radiation doses and no number
of cases are given. Levels of significance are given only occasionally;
and figures with unknown levels of significance are used in argumentation.
For example, a negative correlation between the germline mutation rate and
paternal year of birth in inhabitants of Semipalatinsk area is stated
without giving the correlation coefficient value, its level of
significance and number of correlation pairs. According to the form of the
diagram depicted on the Fig. 2 in the article [6], this correlation is
probably insignificant. Nonetheless, extensive discussion is led on its
basis: “this correlation provides the first experimental evidence for
change in human germline mutation rate with declining exposure to ionizing
radiation and therefore shows that the Moscow treaty banning nuclear
weapon tests in the atmosphere (August 1963) has been effective in
reducing genetic risk to affected population” [6]. On the whole this
review, similarly to other analogous publications, does not provide
significant information but creates impression about high rate of
radiation-induced abnormalities in Chernobyl and Semipalatinsk areas. It
should be noted in conclusion that Chernobyl hysteria has impeded nuclear
power production in many countries and contributed to high energy prices.
References:
1. Chuchalin AG, Maracheva AV, Grobova OM, Cherniaev AL, Antonov NS,
Kalmanova EN, Dmitrov EV, Voisin C. Lungs exposed to nuclear catastrophe:
one-year therapeutic programme in Chernobyl liquidators group. Swiss Med
Wkly 1997;127:165-9.
2. Mueller HL, Drosselmeyer E, Hotz G, Seidel A, Thiele H, Pickering
S. Behaviour of spherical and irregular (U,Pu)O2 particles after
inhalation or intratracheal instillation in rat lung and during in vitro
culture with bovine alveolar macrophages. Int J Radiat Biol. 1989;55:829-
42.
3. Bandazhevskaya GS, Nesterenko VB, Babenko VI, Yerkovich TV,
Bandazhevsky YI. Relationship between caesium (137Cs) load, cardiovascular
symptoms, and source of food in 'Chernobyl' children - preliminary
observations after intake of oral apple pectin. Swiss Med Wkly
2004;134:725-9.
4. IAEA (2006) Chernobyl’s Legacy: Health, Environmental and Socio-
Economic Impacts and Recommendations to the Governments of Belarus, the
Russian Federation and Ukraine. IAEA, Vienna, p. 24-25
5. Nesterenko VB, Nesterenko AV, Babenko VI, Yerkovich TV, Babenko
IV. Reducing the 137Cs-load in the organism of "Chernobyl" children with
apple-pectin. Swiss Med Wkly 2004;134:24-7.
6. Dubrova YE. Monitoring of radiation-induced germline mutation in
humans. Swiss Med Wkly 2003; 133:474-8.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests