Down's syndrome and related abnormalities in an area of high background radiation in coastal Kerala

Kochupillai, N.; Verma, I. C.; Grewal, Manjit Singh; Ramalingaswami, V.

doi:10.1038/262060a0

Cited by 97 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Comparison of the frequencies of Down syndrome in HLNR (65/86,290) and NLNR (39/ 55,250) areas yielded an RR of 1.07 (95 % CI, 0.72-1.59) and did not provide evidence to suggest any impact of HLNR on the prevalence of Down syndrome. The findings are in disagreement with an earlier study (Kochupillai et al 1976) based on an adult population survey that reported higher prevalence of Down syndrome in HLNRA with no Down syndrome case having been recorded in the control population.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…There were reports of a higher prevalence (12/ 12,918 in HLNRA vs. 0/5,938 in control area) of Down syndrome in HLNRA (Kochupillai et al 1976) and a higher frequency of mitochondrial DNA mutation (22/595 in HLNR vs. 1/200 in NLNR; P<.01, likelihood ratio chisquare) in saliva samples (Forster et al 2002). Down syndrome report (Kochupillai et al 1976) was criticized for design issues (Sundaram 1977). Historic dosimetry and small sample size especially from the control area were some of the weaknesses of the mitochondrial DNA study-the risk of mutation in HLNR area relative to control area, as estimated from the data was 7.39 with a very wide 95 % CI of 1.003 to 54.5, reflecting lack of precision in the estimate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Study of stillbirth and major congenital anomaly among newborns in the high-level natural radiation areas of Kerala, India

et al. 2012

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Monitoring newborns for adverse outcomes like stillbirth and major congenital anomalies (MCA) is being carried out in government hospitals since 1995 in and around high-level natural radiation areas, a narrow strip of land on the southwest coast of Kerala, India. Natural deposits of monazite sand containing thorium and its daughter products account for elevated levels of natural radiation. Among 141,540 newborns [140,558 deliveries: 139,589 singleton, 957 twins (6.81 ‰), 11 triplets (0.078 ‰), and one quadruplet] screened, 615 (4.35 ‰) were stillbirth and MCA were seen in 1,370 (9.68 ‰) newborns. Clubfoot (404, 2.85 ‰) was the most frequent MCA followed by hypospadias (152, 2.10 ‰ among male newborns), congenital heart disease (168, 1.19 ‰), cleft lip/palate (149, 1.05 ‰), Down syndrome (104, 0.73 ‰), and neural tube defects (72, 0.51 ‰). Newborns with MCA among stillbirths were about 20-fold higher at 190.24 ‰ (117/615) compared to 8.89 ‰ (1,253/140,925) among live births (P<.001). Logistic regression was carried out to compare stillbirth, overall, and specific MCA among newborns from areas with dose levels of ≤1.5, 1.51-3.0, 3.01-6.0 and >6 mGy/year after controlling for maternal age at birth, gravida, consanguinity, ethnicity, and gender of the baby. Clubfoot showed higher prevalence of 3.26 ‰ at dose level of 1.51-3.0 mGy/year compared to 2.33 ‰ at ≤1.5 mGy/ year (OR01.39; 95 % CI, 1.12-1.72), without indication of any clear dose-response. Prevalences of stillbirth, overall MCA, and other specific MCA were similar across different dose levels and were relatively lower than that reported elsewhere in India, probably due to better literacy, health awareness, and practices in the study population.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Study of stillbirth and major congenital anomaly among newborns in the high-level natural radiation areas of Kerala, India

et al. 2012

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“…The biologically effective radiation dose received by the coastal population is 10,000-12,000 Sv per year, approximately 10 times greater than the worldwide average. Studies in Kerala on rat morphology (6), Down's syndrome (7,8), chromosomal aberrations (9), and congenital malformations (10) could not conclusively reveal significant abnormalities in the local residents, and direct DNA sequencing has never been performed in intergenerational radiation studies in Kerala, or indeed elsewhere in the world.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural radioactivity and human mitochondrial DNA mutations

Forster

Lutz-Bonengel

et al. 2002

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

101

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Radioactivity is known to induce tumors, chromosome lesions, and minisatellite length mutations, but its effects on the DNA sequence have not previously been studied. A coastal peninsula in Kerala (India) contains the world's highest level of natural radioactivity in a densely populated area, offering an opportunity to characterize radiation-associated DNA mutations. We sampled 248 pedigrees (988 individuals) in the high-radiation peninsula and in nearby low-radiation islands as a control population. We sequenced their mtDNA, and found that the pedigrees living in the high-radiation area have significantly (P < 0.01) increased germ-line point mutations between mothers and their offspring. In each mutation case, we confirmed maternity by autosomal profiling. Strikingly, the radioactive conditions accelerate mutations at nucleotide positions that have been evolutionary hot spots for at least 60,000 years.

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“…Concentrations of dissolved solids greater than 500 mg/L (milligrams per liter) may impart an unpleasant taste to the water and may not quench thirst as well as water containing concentrations less than 500 mg/L (McKee and Wolf, 1971). Water from well 2 ( fig.…”

Section: Dissolved Sol Idsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drinking-water quality and variations in water levels in the fractured crystalline-rock aquifer, west-central Jefferson County, Colorado

Hall¹,

Johnson²

1979

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is. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) I n parts of the area, water for domestic use obtained from the fractured crystal 1ine-rock aquifer contained excessive concentrations of dissolved fluoride, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, dissolved solids, dissolved iron, dissolved manganese, dissolved zinc, coliform bacteria, gross alpha radiation, and gross beta radiation. Based on water-quality analyses from 26 wells located in small urbanized areas, water from 21 of the wells contained excessive concentrations of one or more constituents.Water from 11 wells contained concentrations of gross alpha radiation in excess of 15 picocuries per liter, and was estimated to have exceeded the limit in k additional wells. Gross beta radiation was estimated to have exceeded 50 picocuries per liter in water from one well.Local variations in concentrations of 15 chemical constituents, specific conductance and water temperature were statistically significant. Specific conductance increased significantly only in the vicinity of Indian Hills during 1973~75-Depths to water in 11 non-pumping wells ranged from 1 to 15 feet annually. The shallowest water levels were recorded in late winter, usually in February. The deepest water levels occurred during the summer and fall. Three-year trends in water-level changes in 6 of the 11 wells indicated a decrease in stored water in the aquifer. ABSTRACTIn parts of the area, water for domestic use obtained from the fractured crystal!ine-rock aquifer contained excessive concentrations of major chemicals, coliform bacteria, trace elements, or radiochemicals. Based on water-quality analyses from 26 wells located in small urbanized areas, water from 21 of the wells contained excessive concentrations of one or more constituents.The mandatory drinking-water standard of 2 milligrams per liter for dissolved fluoride was exceeded in water from two wells; the maximum concentration was 3.9 milligrams per liter.Two wells yielded water containing dissolved nitrite plus nitrate in concentrations greater than the mandatory drinking-water standard of 10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen; the maximum concentration was 18 milligrams per liter. Dissolved solids exceeded the recommended drinking-water standard of 500 milligrams per liter in water from one well. The recommended drinking-water standard of 300 micrograms per liter for dissolved iron was exceeded in water from six wells and the recommended drinking-water standard of 50 micrograms per liter for dissolved manganese was exceeded in water from eight wells. Two wells yielded water containing dissolved zinc in concentrations greater than the recommended drinking-water standard of 5,000 micrograms per liter.

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Down's syndrome and related abnormalities in an area of high background radiation in coastal Kerala

Cited by 97 publications

References 8 publications

Study of stillbirth and major congenital anomaly among newborns in the high-level natural radiation areas of Kerala, India

Study of stillbirth and major congenital anomaly among newborns in the high-level natural radiation areas of Kerala, India

Natural radioactivity and human mitochondrial DNA mutations

Drinking-water quality and variations in water levels in the fractured crystalline-rock aquifer, west-central Jefferson County, Colorado

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