Mortality in Chernobyl clean-up workers: analysis of dose-effect relationship

In the article dynamics of mortality rates and radiation mortality risks in Chernobyl clean-up workers (liquidators) for the period from 1992 over 2002 is analyzed. Total cohort size is 61 017 persons. Statistically significant (p=0.03) radiation risk (ERR) from external radiation for dying from all cancers except for neoplasms of lymphoid and hematopoietic tissues was found in liquidators of the first year following the Chernobyl accident. The risk magnitude is 1.52/Gy (95 % CI: 0.20-2.85). Of 651 registered deaths from cancer 125 cases (95 % CI: 20-200) or 19 % (95 % CI: 3 % - 31 %) were related to external radiation dose. Positive dose-related trend from exposure to external radiation in mortality from bronchuses and lung cancers (ERR=1.89; 95 % CI: -1.34-5.12), and non-cancer diseases, such as cardiac deficiency (ERR=0.71; 95 % CI: -0.06-2.04) and cerebrovascular diseases (ERR=1.79; 95 % CI: -0.12-3.72) was found.