Five Year Mortality Trend Among Bushehr Nuclear Plant Workers Exposed To Ionizing Radiation: Does Sanction Impact Mortality Rate?

Background: The investigation of potential adverse health effects of occupational exposures to ionizing radiation, on nuclear plant workers, is an important area of research. In this study, we aimed to calculate the incidence and risk of cancer development and mortality during last five years (2015-2019). Material and Methods: 660 nuclear industry workers were included into this study. For this cohort, the cancer mortality has been assessed by data obtained from national health registry excluded for the probability of known causes of death. The associations between cumulative occupational radiation exposures (radon, gamma radiation and long-lived radionuclides) and cancer mortality were calculated. Results: Radon and Gamma exposure, in mSV, was significantly higher among workers who developed cancer [8.9 (0; 3,224.5) vs 19.9 (0; 128.4), p=0.03] and [15.0 (2.1; 110.0) vs 24.5 (0; 470.1), p=0.02]. However, no significant association was found between long-lived radionuclides and risk of cancer (p=0.07). Considering economic sanction as a dependent variable, we found no significant effect on mortality rate among workers. Conclusion: In conclusion, significant association has been observed between the risk of cancer development and radon and gamma exposure among nuclear industry workers, but no association was found between cancer and long-live nucleoids exposure.