Epidemiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epidemiology, including details on twin studies, statistics, environmental and genetic factors.

Rapporteur report: Epidemiology.

Zhang W

Radiation Protection Division, Health Protection Agency, Chilton, Didcot, UK. wei.zhang@hpa-rp.org.uk

Three talks were presented in the session on "Epidemiology". The first talk was a review of prenatal studies. The second talk presented epidemiological evidence from prenatal studies. The third talk presented general issues regarding the planning of an epidemiological study. It was noted that epidemiological studies of prenatal exposures use data from the early 1980s when ultrasound was first introduced for foetal scans. These studies did not show associations between prenatal ultrasound scanning and childhood cancer, reduced birth weight, impaired childhood growth or neurological development in childhood. However, there was a possible association between prenatal ultrasound scanning and left-handedness in boys. The aetiology of this association remains uncertain.

Published 1 December 2006 in Prog Biophys Mol Biol, 93(1): 309-13.
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