Elevated frequency of cataracts in birds from chernobyl.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Radiation cataracts develop as a consequence of the effects of ionizing radiation on the development of the lens of the eye with an opaque lens reducing or eliminating the ability to see. Therefore, we would expect cataracts to be associated with reduced fitness in free-living animals.

Methodology/principal findings

We investigated the incidence of lens opacities typical of cataracts in more than 1100 free-living birds in the Chernobyl region in relation to background radiation. The incidence of cataracts increased with level of background radiation both in analyses based on a dichotomous score and in analyses of continuous scores of intensity of cataracts. The odds ratio per unit change in the regressor was 0.722 (95% CI 0.648, 0.804), which was less than odds ra

SUBMITTER: Mousseau TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3728354 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature