Study of Thyroid Cancer and Other Thyroid Diseases Following the Chernobyl Accident
This study was established to assess the relationship between exposure to I-131 from Chernobyl and the occurrence of thyroid cancer and other thyroid disorders following the Chernobyl accident. Beginning in 1998, exposed children in Ukraine and Belarus who had thyroid activity measurements made in May or June 1986 shortly following the Chernobyl accident, took part in screening programs to determine whether they had thyroid cancer or a range of other thyroid diseases. The screening programs were carried out in the heavily contaminated northern regions of Ukraine (Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr oblasts as well as Kyiv City) and all six oblasts of Belarus. Active screening was completed in 2008 in both countries, with follow-up continuing through linkage to National Cancer Registries.
Study design
Cohort
Number of participants at first data collection
13,243 (Ukrainian participants)
11,918 (Belarusian participants)
Age at first data collection
0 - 17 years (Ukrainian participants)
0 - 18 years (Belarusian participants)
Participant year of birth
1968 - 1986 (Ukrainian participants)
Varied (Belarusian participants)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
No
Sample features
Countries
Year of first data collection
1998
Primary Institutions
National Cancer Institute (NCI) - United States of America
Links
dceg.cancer.gov/research/what-we-study/thyroid-cancer-ukraine
dceg.cancer.gov/research/what-we-study/thyroid-cancer-belarus
Profile paper DOI
Funders
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Interview – face-to-face
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Secondary data
- None
- None
- Healthcare data
Engagement
Keywords
