Abstract
A concern often occurs for an increase of infant congenital anomalies due to pollution sources such as nuclear power plant. Our purpose is to provide a reasonable interpretation for variation of infant mortality from congenital anomalies by calendar year and areas. Analysis by six local area blocks is mainly based on the 1972-2007 Japanese vital statistic prefecture data. General infant mortality in Japan continues to decrease but infant deaths related to perinatal conditions reflect the deaths one-week after birth stronger recently. Different geographical variation was seen between congenital anomalies and other diseases excluding neoplasm. Retaionship with perinatal death was not indicated for chromosomal abnormalities but was observed stronger for congenital anomalies of non-circulatory system except them in 1988-92 or later. Variation was not seen in last five years for other diseases combined but was seen for sudden infant death syndrome. Decrease of observed deaths makes it difficult to understand temporal variation of mortality in small areas but potential risk for infant deaths from congenital anomalies near a pollution facility is small in normal operation.
