S.C. researchers find more leukemia in children, young people near nukes
A new study by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina has found elevated rates of leukemia among children and young people living near nuclear facilities.
The findings raise important questions about the push to expand the U.S. nuclear power industry. There are currently plans (PDF) to build new reactors across the nation and the South, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
The MUSC researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 17 research papers covering 136 nuclear sites in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Germany and France. They found that leukemia death rates for children up to the age of 9 were elevated by between 5 and 24 percent, depending on their proximity to nuclear facilities, and by 2 to 18 percent in children and young people up to the age of 25. They also found that leukemia incidence rates were increased among those living near nuclear facilities by 14 to 21 percent in children up to age 9, and by 7 to 10 percent for those up to age 25.
"Childhood leukemia is a rare disease and nuclear sites are commonly found in rural areas, which means that sample sizes tend to be small," says lead author Dr. Peter J. Baker. "The advantage of carrying out a meta-analysis is that it enables us to draw together a number of studies that have employed common methods and draw wider conclusions."
Eight separate analyses were performed -- including unadjusted, random and fixed-effect models -- and the figures they produced showed considerable consistency.
"If the amount of exposure were too low to cause the excess risk, we would expect leukemia rates to remain consistent before and after the start-up of a nuclear facility," said Baker. "However, our meta-analysis consistently showed elevated illness and death rates for children and young people living near nuclear facilities."
Baker noted that many questions remain to be answered about why living near a nuclear reactor would increase leukemia rates. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the phenomenon, including environmental radiation exposure and parental radiation exposure. In addition, cancer researcher Professor Leo Kinlen of Oxford University has offered the hypothesis that viral transmission caused by mixing populations in a new rural location could be a factor.
"It is clear that further research is needed into this important subject," Baker concluded.
The MUSC study appears in the July issue of the European Journal of Cancer Care.
The findings raise important questions about the push to expand the U.S. nuclear power industry. There are currently plans (PDF) to build new reactors across the nation and the South, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
The MUSC researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 17 research papers covering 136 nuclear sites in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Germany and France. They found that leukemia death rates for children up to the age of 9 were elevated by between 5 and 24 percent, depending on their proximity to nuclear facilities, and by 2 to 18 percent in children and young people up to the age of 25. They also found that leukemia incidence rates were increased among those living near nuclear facilities by 14 to 21 percent in children up to age 9, and by 7 to 10 percent for those up to age 25.
"Childhood leukemia is a rare disease and nuclear sites are commonly found in rural areas, which means that sample sizes tend to be small," says lead author Dr. Peter J. Baker. "The advantage of carrying out a meta-analysis is that it enables us to draw together a number of studies that have employed common methods and draw wider conclusions."
Eight separate analyses were performed -- including unadjusted, random and fixed-effect models -- and the figures they produced showed considerable consistency.
"If the amount of exposure were too low to cause the excess risk, we would expect leukemia rates to remain consistent before and after the start-up of a nuclear facility," said Baker. "However, our meta-analysis consistently showed elevated illness and death rates for children and young people living near nuclear facilities."
Baker noted that many questions remain to be answered about why living near a nuclear reactor would increase leukemia rates. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the phenomenon, including environmental radiation exposure and parental radiation exposure. In addition, cancer researcher Professor Leo Kinlen of Oxford University has offered the hypothesis that viral transmission caused by mixing populations in a new rural location could be a factor.
"It is clear that further research is needed into this important subject," Baker concluded.
The MUSC study appears in the July issue of the European Journal of Cancer Care.
Labels: energy policy, nuclear power, public health
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