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A study aimed at comparing the prevalence of thyroid diseases between children born before and after the accident was outlined with emphasis on rationale and design of the study. In the study, a total of 21 601 children in Gomel city and four districts in the neighborhood of Gomel city were examined from February 1998 to December 2000. There were 9720 children born from January 1, 1983 to April 26, 1986 (Group I), 2409 children born from April 27, 1986 to December 31, 1986 and 9472 children born from January 1, 1987 to December 31, 1989 (Group III). Out of the examined children, 32 (0.15%) thyroid cancers were found, among whom 31 were in Group I and one was in Group II, while no cases in Group III. Our findings demonstrate the likelihood that short-lived radioactive fallout due to the Chernobyl accident induced thyroid cancer in children living near Chernobyl.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident happened on April 26, 1986. We investigated the cause of the striking increase in frequency of thyroid cancer in children who lived within a 150 km radius of Chernobyl and who were born before and after the accident. No thyroid cancer was seen in 9472 children born in 1987-89, whereas one and 31 thyroid cancers were recorded in 2409 children born April 27, 1986, to Dec 31, 1986, and 9720 born Jan 1, 1983, to April 26, 1986, respectively. Short-lived radioactive fallout caused by the Chernobyl accident probably induced thyroid cancer in children living near Chernobyl.