Meningioma incidence in a cohort of workers chronically occupationally exposed to radiation
Moseeva M.B., Azizova T.V., Bannikova M.V.
Southern Urals Biophysics Institute, Chelyabinsk region
Brief summary
Studies agree on the increase in risk of brain tumors after childhood exposure to radiation, however results on adult exposure are controversial. Aim of the study. Is to analyze risk of meningioma incidence in a cohort of nuclear workers occupationally chronically exposed to radiation. Materials and methods. A cohort of 22377 Mayak Production Association workers occupationally chronically exposed to radiation has been studied. Follow-up period covered 1948-2018. Mean total dose absorbed in brain after chronic exposure to external gamma rays was 0.44 Gy; mean total dose absorbed in liver after chronic exposure to alpha-particles was 0.25 Gy. Relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by the maximum likelihood method. Results. There were 44 meningioma cases (20 male and 24 female cases) during the whole follow-up period. Malignant meningiomas accounted for 18% of cases (20% among males and 17% among females). As compared with males RR for females was 1.94 (95% CI 1.05; 3.65). RR increased with attained age and was statistically significant above one in all groups older 50 years. RR among individuals employed at age older than 25 years was 0.46 (95% CI 0.22; 0.91). There was no statistically significant difference in RR estimates between groups by body mass index, smoking or alcohol consumption. As compared with reactor workers meningioma incidence RR was above one for both radiochemical and plutonium production plant workers, but was statistically significant only for radiochemical plant (2.70 95% CI 1.12; 8.01). There was no statistically significant RR for either of groups by total external gamma ray or internal alpha-particle dose. Conclusions. The present study established that risk of meningioma incidence varied by gender, attained age and age at employment, but there were no difference in risk between groups by body mass index, smoking or alcohol consumption. Despite the fact that the RR statistically significantly above one was only for radiochemical plant workers, there was no difference between groups of total external gamma ray or internal alpha-particle dose.
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