The Chernobyl accident (1986) increased population exposure to which radioiodine isotope, resulting in a surge of which cancer in the subsequent decade?
- A I-131; leukaemia in adults
- B Cs-137; breast carcinoma in women aged 20–40
- C I-131; papillary thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents ✓
- D Sr-90; bone sarcoma in children
Explanation
Radioactive iodine-131 (I-131), released in large quantities from the Chernobyl reactor fire, was ingested via contaminated milk and leafy vegetables, concentrating in thyroid glands. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of the high rate of thyroid cell division. There was a 5–10 fold increase in papillary thyroid carcinoma in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia within 5 years. Adults showed less effect due to lower thyroid iodine uptake rate. Cs-137 contributed to general radiation exposure but the thyroid cancer epidemic is specifically linked to I-131.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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