Citation

Juel K. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 1995; 48(10): 1261-1267.

Affiliation

Danish Institute for Clinical Epidemiology, Copenhagen O, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7561988

Abstract

A register-based study was performed to elucidate whether workers employed on the Thule air base in the clean-up period after the crash of a U.S. B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs had reduced fertility, as measured by the numbers of liveborn children. The highest birth rates were among 25-34-year olds with 1-3 years of employment on the base, but who had not worked at the base the year before, who already had one child, with a 2-5-year interval since the birth of the last child. No difference was seen between the group of men who had worked at the base during the clean-up period after the crash--the possibly exposed group--and those people who had worked at the base only outside the clean-up period. Because of the massive media coverage and possible claims for damages a register-based study is the only practicable way of elucidating statements about infertility. The main conclusion is that the accident has not reduced fertility.

Language: en