Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1183-1192 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Epidemiology and Infection |
| Volume | 145 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- Epidemic
- geographical information system (GIS)
- influenza
- national sentinel surveillance
- norovirus
- soil radiation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Cite this
Correlation between infectious disease and soil radiation in Japan : An exploratory study using national sentinel surveillance data. / Inaida, S.; Tsuda, Toshihide; Matsuno, S.
In: Epidemiology and Infection, Vol. 145, No. 6, 01.04.2017, p. 1183-1192.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Correlation between infectious disease and soil radiation in Japan
T2 - An exploratory study using national sentinel surveillance data
AU - Inaida, S.
AU - Tsuda, Toshihide
AU - Matsuno, S.
PY - 2017/4/1
Y1 - 2017/4/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Epidemic
KW - geographical information system (GIS)
KW - influenza
KW - national sentinel surveillance
KW - norovirus
KW - soil radiation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009802417&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85009802417&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0950268816003034
DO - 10.1017/S0950268816003034
M3 - Article
C2 - 28091341
AN - SCOPUS:85009802417
VL - 145
SP - 1183
EP - 1192
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
SN - 0950-2688
IS - 6
ER -