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A review of the risks of leukemia in relation to parental pre-conception exposure to radiation

Journal Article · · Health Physics
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. National Radiological Protection Board, Oxon (United Kingdom)
  2. Univ. of Birmingham (United Kingdom)
  3. British Nuclear Fuels plc, Cheshire (United Kingdom)

The apparent risk of childhood leukemia resulting from paternal pre-conception radiation exposure found among children of the Sellafield (West Cumbria, UK) workforce is compared with the apparent risk in a number of other epidemiological studies. In particular, the extent of the incompatibility of the leukemia pre-conception exposure risks in the offspring of the Sellarield workforce born in the village of Seascale with the risks for those born in the rest of west Cumbria, and with the risks in the offspring of the Japanese bomb survivors, the Ontario radiation workers, and tile Scottish radiation workers is discussed. A variety of animal data relating to the possibility of leukemia arising as a result of parental pre-conception exposure is also considered. It is concluded that the extent of the inconsistency of the leukemia risks in the Seascale data with this body of epidemiological and experimental data makes it highly unlikely that the association observed in the West Cumbria dataset represents a causal relationship. 107 refs., 1 tab.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
255115
Journal Information:
Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 68; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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