tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Epidemiol Infect. 2017 Jan 16:1-10. doi: 10.1017/S0950268816003034. [Epub ahead of print]
[h=1]Correlation between infectious disease and soil radiation in Japan: an exploratory study using national sentinel surveillance data.[/h] Inaida S[SUP]1[/SUP], Tsuda T[SUP]2[/SUP], Matsuno S[SUP]3[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]
[h=3]Abstract[/h] We investigated the relationship between epidemics and soil radiation through an exploratory study using sentinel surveillance data (individuals aged <20 years) during the last three epidemic seasons of influenza and norovirus in Japan. We used a spatial analysis method of a geographical information system (GIS). We mapped the epidemic spreading patterns from sentinel incidence rates. We calculated the average soil radiation [dm (μGy/h)] for each sentinel site using data on uranium, thorium, and potassium oxide in the soil and examined the incidence rate in units of 0?01 μGy/h. The correlations between the incidence rate and the average soil radiation were assessed. Epidemic clusters of influenza and norovirus infections were observed in areas with relatively high radiation exposure. A positive correlation was detected between the average incidence rate and radiation dose, at r = 0?61-0?84 (P < 0?01) for influenza infections and r = 0?61-0?72 (P < 0?01) for norovirus infections. An increase in the incidence rate was found between areas with radiation exposure of 0 < dm < 0?01 and 0?15 ⩽ dm < 0?16, at 1?80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1?47-2?12] times higher for influenza infection and 2?07 (95% CI 1?53-2?61) times higher for norovirus infection. Our results suggest a potential association between decreased immunity and irradiation because of soil radiation. Further studies on immunity in these epidemic-prone areas are desirable.
[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Epidemic; geographical information system (GIS); influenza; national sentinel surveillance; norovirus; soil radiation
PMID: 28091341 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268816003034
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
[h=1]Correlation between infectious disease and soil radiation in Japan: an exploratory study using national sentinel surveillance data.[/h] Inaida S[SUP]1[/SUP], Tsuda T[SUP]2[/SUP], Matsuno S[SUP]3[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h]
[h=3]Abstract[/h] We investigated the relationship between epidemics and soil radiation through an exploratory study using sentinel surveillance data (individuals aged <20 years) during the last three epidemic seasons of influenza and norovirus in Japan. We used a spatial analysis method of a geographical information system (GIS). We mapped the epidemic spreading patterns from sentinel incidence rates. We calculated the average soil radiation [dm (μGy/h)] for each sentinel site using data on uranium, thorium, and potassium oxide in the soil and examined the incidence rate in units of 0?01 μGy/h. The correlations between the incidence rate and the average soil radiation were assessed. Epidemic clusters of influenza and norovirus infections were observed in areas with relatively high radiation exposure. A positive correlation was detected between the average incidence rate and radiation dose, at r = 0?61-0?84 (P < 0?01) for influenza infections and r = 0?61-0?72 (P < 0?01) for norovirus infections. An increase in the incidence rate was found between areas with radiation exposure of 0 < dm < 0?01 and 0?15 ⩽ dm < 0?16, at 1?80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1?47-2?12] times higher for influenza infection and 2?07 (95% CI 1?53-2?61) times higher for norovirus infection. Our results suggest a potential association between decreased immunity and irradiation because of soil radiation. Further studies on immunity in these epidemic-prone areas are desirable.
[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Epidemic; geographical information system (GIS); influenza; national sentinel surveillance; norovirus; soil radiation
PMID: 28091341 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268816003034
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]