Mortality from hemoblastosis in cities and districts of the Chelyabinsk region affected by radiation accidents

Introduction. The proportion of mortality from malignant neoplasms of lymphoid and hematopoietic tissues - hemoblastosis from all forms of malignant neoplasms ranges from 4% to 8%. In the second half of the twentieth century, in many countries, including the USSR, there was a noticeable increase in mortality from hemoblastosis.Materials and methods. A selective retrospective epidemiological study of the mortality of the population living in the cities of Kasli and Kyshtym and four districts of the Chelyabinsk region: Argayashsky, Kaslinsky, Kunashaksky, Krasnoarmeysky was conducted. The source of information was the death records in the archive of the regional registry of the Office of the Chelyabinsk region for the period 1947–1996. The analysis was carried out on two groups of malignant neoplasms: malignant neoplasms of lymphoid tissue, malignant neoplasms of myeloid tissue.Results. Several increases in mortality were noted in Kasli, Kyshtym, Kasli, Argayash, and Krasnoarmeysky districts. The differences with the control reach 2–3 times. The increase in mortality in cities and districts was mainly due to the ages of 60–69 and 70 years and older. In all contaminated areas, at the beginning and at the end of the study period, the mortality rates from lymphoid malignant neoplasms were higher than the mortality from myeloid malignant neoplasms. Since the late 1950s, there has been a prevalence of mortality from myeloid malignant neoplasms over lymphoid malignant neoplasms. The highest mortality rates from myeloid malignant neoplasms occurred in 1957–1966 and 1967–1976.Limitations. The study period is limited to 1996 due to the inability to obtain source materials for subsequent years. Conclusion. An increase in mortality from hemoblastosis in the population living in radioactively contaminated areas has been established. The increase in mortality after radiation accidents was due to myeloid malignancies.Compliance with ethical standards. Minutes No. 4 of the meeting of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Industrial Ecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences dated 06/10/2024.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.Received: August 22, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: April 30, 2025

hemoblastosis, radioactive contamination, population, mortality