Mortality from major types of oncological diseases due to occupational radiation exposure

Introduction. The results of assessing radiation risk associated with occupational exposure are presented in numerous publications devoted to specific diseases. A comprehensive approach makes it possible to objectively assess the cumulative effect of radiation exposure on mortality rates.

The study aims to assess the radiation related risk of mortality for the main classes of non oncological diseases, depending on the period of professional activity.

Materials and methods. The authors conducted a study on a cohort of employees hired by the Mayak production association between 1948 and 1982. The cohort included 25.755 people, including 13.790 who were hired during the period of production ramp up (1948–1958) and 11.965 who were hired during the period of normal operation (1959–1982), with significantly different working conditions in terms of the level of radiation exposure. During the observation period, which ended on December 31, 2018, more than 1 million person years of observation were accumulated, and 17.810 deaths were recorded.

Results. A positive and statistically significant point estimate of the excess relative risk coefficient per unit dose of external gamma radiation was obtained for mortality from blood and hematopoietic organ diseases (IOR/Hr=1.74; 95% CI: 0.17; 7.21), as well as respiratory diseases in the entire cohort was (IOR/Hr=0.32; 95% CI: 0.14; 0.55) and is due to the indicators in the 1948-1958 subcorte of hiring. For the class of diseases of the circulatory system, the IRR/Gy was 0.06 (95% CI: 0.02; 0.10), and the coefficient estimate was the same for individuals hired in 1948–1958 and in 1959–1982, but it differed significantly between residents and migrants. No relationship between excess risk and the dose of external gamma radiation was identified for mortality from other classes of diseases.

Limitations. A large proportion of cases with an unknown cause of death among individuals who died after 2006 outside the city of Ozyorsk.

Conclusion. Cancer accounted for the majority of radiation-induced deaths (68%). The contribution of the radiation factor to the structure of mortality from non-oncological causes was 5%.

Ethics. The study was conducted on the basis of archival information and did not require the conclusion of an ethics committee.

Contributions:
Kuznetsova I.S. — modeling, generalization of results, preparation of the article text;
Denisova E.V. — analytical review of literature data, editing of the article text.

Funding. The study was conducted as part of the applied research work "Technogenic Exposure and Its Long Term Medical Consequences" (code "Consequences 2025") based on the Federal Target Program "Ensuring Nuclear and Radiation Safety for 2016–2020 and for the Period up to 2035".

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 18.09.2026 / Accepted: 23.09.2026 / Published: 09.10.2026

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