Reference values of electrographic and cardiac ultrasound parameters in Russian healthy children and adolescents.

Between 2009 and 2013, a large cross-sectional study on the health consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident was performed in the contaminated and uncontaminated territories of the Bryansk Oblast (Russian Federation). The objective of this work was to confirm or refute a possible association between childhood cardiac arrhythmia and a chronic exposure to caesium-137. As part of this study, a large number of electrocardiographic and cardiac ultrasound parameters were collected from 18,152 children aged 2-18 years including 12,512 healthy ones not contaminated with caesium-137.

Is exposure to ionising radiation associated with childhood cardiac arrhythmia in the Russian territories contaminated by the Chernobyl fallout? A cross-sectional population-based study.

Objective: To investigate childhood cardiac arrhythmia and chronic exposure to caesium-137 (Cs) resulting from the Chernobyl accident.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study using exposed/unexposed design conducted in the Bryansk region from May 2009 to May 2013 on children selected on the basis of Cs soil deposition: control territories ([Cs]<37 kBq per square metre, where children were considered as unexposed) and contaminated territories ([Cs]>555 kBq per square metre, where children were considered as exposed).

Setting: Russian territories affected by the Chernobyl fallout (Bryansk region).