CompletedNot Applicable

Radiation Exposure and Thyroid Disease in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan117 participantsStarted 2007-05-17

Plain-language summary

Residents of certain villages in Kazakhstan were exposed during childhood to radioactive fallout from nuclear tests conducted at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS) between 1949 and 1962. Radiation doses to the thyroid from external and internal (i.e., ingested) radiation sources deposited as fallout are of interest because they may be jointly and differentially associated with increased risk of thyroid disease in this population. Objectives: To collect information about factors influencing radiation dose to the thyroid gland in children of two ethnic groups who were exposed to radioactive fallout from nuclear tests at the SNTS between 1949 and 1962. The two groups are Kazakhs (historically nomadic herders) and Europeans (typically descendants of Russian and German farmers). Eligibility: Women 70 years of age and older who had children or provided care to children during the 1950s. Men age 70 and older who were engaged in farming and care of dairy animals at the time of the nuclear tests. Design: In focus group format, participants are interviewed to collect information on the following at the time of nuclear tests: * Dairy consumption; * Source, storage and availability of milk and milk products; * Time that children of different ages and ethnic groups spent indoors; * Building material of houses and schools; * Herding, grazing and supplemental feed of dairy animals.

Who can participate

Age range

65 Years – 90 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

* To be eligible, individuals must speak Russian or Kazakh, be able to participate in a two-hour focus group session, and have a verified history of residing in the village during the 1950s. Verification of residence history will be based on regional records. 1. Women: In each village, we will recruit 24 women. We will select women who are age 70 years and older and who had children or provided care to children (i.e., younger siblings, nieces and nephews) during the 1950s. Our first priority is to recruit women whose own children were less than 21 years during the 1950s. If necessary, we will also recruit women who provided care to children other than their own (e.g., younger siblings, nieces and nephews) during this period. We will recruit both members of our 1998 cohort members and other women in the community who meet the eligibility criteria. Subjects will be chosen to represent experience caring for children of different ages at the time of the nuclear tests. In order to recruit women who had children of different ages (less than 21 years) during the 1950s, we will screen potential participants for their children s years of birth and attempt to enroll women whose children represent a range of ages during the 1950 s. 2. Men: In each village, we will recruit eight men (Russian and Kazakh) age 70 and older who were engaged in farming and care of dairy animals at the time of the nuclear tests.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Thyroid nodules

Timeframe: 1998

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00480428

SponsorNational Cancer Institute (NCI)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

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