Cancer increase study methodology: A review and discussion of the ``Southeastern Massachusetts Health Study 1978--1986``
In October 1990 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released a report of an epidemiologic study of adult leukemia occurring in the vicinity of the Pilgrim 1 Nuclear Power Plant near Plymouth, Massachusetts. The study used a case-control design in which adult leukemia cases occurring between 1978 and 1986 in 22 towns were compared with persons without leukemia (controls) selected from the same study population. Exposure scores, used to estimate potential for exposure to radioactive emissions from Pilgrim, were calculated for all cases and controls. When the exposure scores of cases were compared with those of controls, the analyses showed the scores to be higher for the leukemia cases, suggesting that individuals with the highest potential for exposure to Pilgrim emissions had a significantly increased risk of leukemia. This association was found only for cases diagnosed before 1984; for cases diagnosed during 1984, 1985, or 1986, no association was observed between leukemia case status and potential for exposure to emissions from the plant. Our review of the report and supporting documents shows no major methodologic problems that would account for the finding of an association between leukemia risk and the Pilgrim plant. Examination of the study findings in relation to what is known about leukemia risks associated with radiation exposure, however, indicates that the results of the Southeastern Massachusetts Health Study are inconsistent with a large body of evidence from a number of other studies.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10185137
- Report Number(s):
- PNL--8731; ON: DE93041253
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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