Radioacidentados por Césio-137 em Goiânia e o desenvolvimento de câncer

Abstract

The city of Goiânia – GO, on 09/13/1987, suffered a radiological accident with the element Caesium-137 – considered the largest episode in the world outside of a nuclear power plant. This event affected the region of Goiás, since Caesium-137 is an alkaline metal of encapsulated use that, when exposed in the environment, releases gamma rays that can affect the genetic material of the cells of the human body, which can lead to the emergence of cancer. Because of this exposure, the present study aims to correlate the individuals radioaccidented by Caesium-137 in Goiânia with the development of cancer. To this end, a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective analysis of the secondary data of 153 patient registries registered and distributed in groups by the C.A.R.A. – the entity responsible for monitoring the effects of Caesium-137 on the health of radio-injured people and their descendants in Goiânia, was carried out, based on the data: gender, topography and International Code of Diseases (ICD) of those belonging to Groups I, II and III. The results obtained were Group I - prostatic adenocarcinoma (43%), where the others - epidermal melanoma (female manifestation), esophageal carcinoma, bladder and chronic myeloid leukemia, presented 14% of occurrence; Group II - uterine carcinoma (50%), where the others - epidermal carcinoma (female manifestation) and prostatic adenocarcinoma presented 25% of occurrence; and Group III - made similar reference to Group I, that is, prostate adenocarcinoma, with a percentage of 23.24%, followed by skin carcinoma in males in 18.31% (the most incident in the country in the face of various types of cancers)14, multiple myeloma and chronic myeloid leukemia in 7.04% and uterine and adjacent cancer in 5.63%. The other types of cancers presented incidence rates with low percentage values. As a conclusion, we have that the relationship Caesium-137 with the development of cancer in radioaccident victims is difficult to direct given the significant incidence of cancers common to those of the general population, and may indicate organ systems shaken by the possible radiation and non-latency period of Caesium-137. This expression is reinforced in the face of low-exposure cancers that coincide with the complications recorded by the INCA in cases of exposure to gamma rays, as is the case of Caesium-137.