Title: The victims of Chernobyl in Greece: induced abortions after the accident.

POPLINE Document Number: 045671

Author(s):

Trichopoulos D
Zavitsanos X
Koutis C
Drogari P
Proukakis C
Petridou E

Source citation:

BMJ. British Medical Journal, 1987 Oct 31;295(6606):1100.

Abstract:

The extent of the catastrophe caused by the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, became evident a few days later in Greece. By June it was realized that the average effective radiation dose to the population of Greece would not exceed 1 mSv (100 mrem). Though this dose is considerably lower than that which could induce embryonic abnormalities or other non-stochastic effects, conflicting data and false rumors caused panic among pregnant women. An attempt was made to estimate the number of abortions performed because of the Chernobyl accident by recording the actual numbers of liveborn infants in Greece, by month, until the end of March 1987 and comparing these numbers with those expected on the basis of recent birthrate trends. Women who had the 1st day of their last menstrual period during the month before the Chernobyl accident would be expected to give birth during January 1987. Many of these women believed they had a high risk of giving birth to an abnormal embryo. Most women who had the 1st day of their last menstrual period during the 1st month after the Chernobyl accident became aware that they were pregnant in June, when the panic had subsided and either they or their obstetricians had a more realistic view of the radiation risk. These women would be expected to give birth during February 1987. In Greece abortions are now largely legalized although few are registered. The expected numbers of liveborn children during January, February, and March 1987 were calculated on the basis of month-specific simple linear regressions of the observed monthly numbers of liveborn infants from 1981-86. The observed and (in parentheses) expected figures during January, February, and March 1987 were: 7032 (9103, with a 95% lower limit for an individual value of 8425); 7255 (7645); and 8350 (8453), respectively, whereas during December 1986 no reduction in the number of live births was evident in relation to the preceding 2 years. It was estimated that in Greece during the period of concern following the Chernobyl accident, i.e., during most of May 1986, 23% of early pregnancies at perceived risk were artificially terminated and that during the whole of 1986 about 2500 otherwise wanted pregnancies were interrupted because of perceived radiation risk.

Keywords:

Greece
Europe, Southern
Europe
Abortion
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Environmental Pollution
Ecology
Biology
Environment
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Pregnancy Complications
Diseases
Misinformation
Communication
Complications
Developed Countries
Environmental Degradation