| Chernobyl Fallout and Outcome of Pregnancy in Finland Anssi Auvinen,1,3 Mikko Vahteristo,2 Hannu Arvela,1 Matti Suomela,1 Tua Rahola,1 Matti Hakama,3 and Tapio Rytömaa1,* 1STUK-Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Helsinki, Finland; 2National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Kuopio, Finland; 3Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland Abstract
Possible effects of Chernobyl fallout on outcome of pregnancy in Finland were evaluated in a nationwide follow-up study. The outcomes were the rate of live births and stillbirths, pregnancy loss, and induced abortions by municipality. Exposure was assessed based on nationwide surveys of radiation dose rate from the Chernobyl fallout, from both external and internal exposures. Using these measurements, we estimated the monthly dose rate for each of the 455 Finnish municipalities. On average, the dose rate from Chernobyl fallout reached 50 µSv per month in May 1986--a doubling of the natural background radiation. In the most heavily affected area, 4 times the normal background dose rates were recorded. Given the underlying regional differences in live birth, stillbirth, and abortion rates, we used longitudinal analysis comparing changes over time within municipalities. A temporary decline in the live birth rate had already begun before 1986, with no clear relationship to the level of fallout. A statistically significant increase in spontaneous abortions with dose of radiation was observed. No marked changes in induced abortions or stillbirths were observed. The decrease in the live birth rate is probably not a biological effect of radiation, but more likely related to public concerns of the fallout. The effect on spontaneous abortions should be interpreted with caution, because of potential bias or confounding. Further, there is little support in the epidemiologic literature on effects of very low doses of radiation on pregnancy outcome. Key words: adverse effects, birth rate, Finland, induced abortion, pregnancy outcome, radiation, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth. Environ Health Perspect 109:179-185 (2001) . [Online 26 January 2001] http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2001/109p179-185auvinen/ abstract.html Address correspondence to A. Auvinen, STUK-Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Radiobiology Laboratory, PO Box 14, FIN-00881 Helsinki, Finland. Telephone: +358-9-759 88 554. Fax +358-9-759 88 556. E-mail: anssi.auvinen@stuk.fi *Current address: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. Received 16 August 1999 ; accepted 30 October 2000.
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