Main Content

Lack of transgenerational effects of ionizing radiation exposure in cleanup workers and evacuees of the Chernobyl accident

TRIO

Science. Volume 372, Issue 6543: p.725-729, 14 May 2021 10.1126/science.abg2365

Effects of radiation exposure from the Chernobyl nuclear accident remain a topic of interest. We investigated whether children born to parents employed as cleanup workers or exposed to occupational and environmental ionizing radiation post-accident were born with more germline de novo mutations (DNMs). Whole-genome sequencing of 130 children (born 1987-2002) and their parents did not reveal an increase in the rates, distributions, or types of DNMs versus previous studies. We find no elevation in total DNMs regardless of cumulative preconception gonadal paternal (mean=365mGy, range=0-4,080 mGy) or maternal (mean=19mGy, range=0-550 mGy) exposure to ionizing radiation and conclude over this exposure range, evidence is lacking for a substantial effect on germline DNMs in humans, suggesting minimal impact on health of subsequent generations.

Data in the GDC

  • GDC Manifests

    Note: Users will require dbGaP access to project phs001163 to download the data files from the above manifests. These files have not yet been harmonized by the GDC and will become available through the Data Portal after harmonization is complete.

Instructions for Data Download

Open Access Data

  1. Download the appropriate manifest file from the publication page
  2. Use the manifest file to download data using the GDC Data Transfer Tool (DTT) or the GDC API

Controlled Access Data

  1. Download the appropriate manifest file from the publication page
  2. Download a token from the GDC Data Portal
  3. Use the manifest file and token to download data using the GDC DTT or the GDC API

For assistance, please contact the GDC Help Desk: support@nci-gdc.datacommons.io.