Gong Xi, Benjamin Zhan F, Lin Yan
Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
Department of Geography, Texas Center for Geographic Information Science, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
Radiat Environ Biophys. 2017 Mar;56(1):111-120. doi: 10.1007/s00411-016-0673-2. Epub 2016 Dec 29.
Health effects of close residential proximity to nuclear facilities have been a concern for both the general public and health professionals. Here, a study is reported examining the association between maternal residential proximity to nuclear facilities and low birth weight (LBW) in offspring using data from 1996 through 2008 in Texas, USA. A case-control study design was used together with a proximity-based model for exposure assessment. First, the LBW case/control births were categorized into multiple proximity groups based on distances between their maternal residences and nuclear facilities. Then, a binary logistic regression model was used to examine the association between maternal residential proximity to nuclear facilities and low birth weight in offspring. The odds ratios were adjusted for birth year, public health region of maternal residence, child's sex, gestational weeks, maternal age, education, and race/ethnicity. In addition, sensitivity analyses were conducted for the model. Compared with the reference group (more than 50 km from a nuclear facility), the exposed groups did not show a statistically significant increase in LBW risk [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81, 1.03) for group 40-50 km; aOR 0.98 (CI 0.84, 1.13) for group 30-40 km; aOR 0.95 (CI 0.79, 1.15) for group 20-30 km; aOR 0.86 (CI 0.70, 1.04) for group 10-20 km; and aOR 0.98 (CI 0.59, 1.61) for group 0-10 km]. These results were also confirmed by results of the sensitivity analyses. The results suggest that maternal residential proximity to nuclear facilities is not a significant factor for LBW in offspring.
居住在核电站附近对健康的影响一直是公众和健康专家关注的问题。在此，报告了一项研究，该研究利用美国得克萨斯州1996年至2008年的数据，考察了母亲居住在核电站附近与后代低出生体重（LBW）之间的关联。采用病例对照研究设计，并结合基于距离的暴露评估模型。首先，根据母亲住所与核电站之间的距离，将低出生体重病例/对照出生情况分为多个距离组。然后，使用二元逻辑回归模型来考察母亲居住在核电站附近与后代低出生体重之间的关联。对出生年份、母亲居住的公共卫生区域、孩子的性别、孕周、母亲年龄、教育程度和种族/族裔进行了比值比调整。此外，还对模型进行了敏感性分析。与参照组（距离核电站50多公里）相比，暴露组的低出生体重风险没有统计学上的显著增加[40 - 50公里组的调整后比值比（aOR）为0.91（95%置信区间（CI）：0.81，1.03）；30 - 40公里组的aOR为0.98（CI 0.84，1.13）；20 - 30公里组的aOR为0.95（CI 0.79，1.15）；10 - 20公里组的aOR为0.86（CI 0.70，1.04）；0 - 10公里组的aOR为0.98（CI 0.59，1.61）]。敏感性分析结果也证实了这些结果。结果表明，母亲居住在核电站附近不是后代低出生体重的重要因素。
