Changes in incidence of carcinoma in situ after the Chernobyl disaster in central Europe.

The data files from an extensive cytological screening program for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia from a regional Czech hospital were analyzed. The data collection span is from 1985 to 1991 and shows highly significant maximum effects in the years 1988-1989, i.e., shortly after the Chernobyl accident. The increase was concordantly found in all the age categories, but the reaction seems to be faster in younger women. The delayed maximum effect (two years after the accident) also corresponds to the course of total foodstuffs burden and total-body activity.