Cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities. A survey of mortality nationwide and incidence in two states
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (USA)
Reports from the United Kingdom have described increases in leukemia and lymphoma among young persons living near certain nuclear installations. Because of concerns raised by these reports, a mortality survey was conducted in populations living near nuclear facilities in the United States. All facilities began service before 1982. Over 900,000 cancer deaths occurred from 1950 through 1984 in 107 counties with or near nuclear installations. Each study county was matched for comparison to three control counties in the same region. There were 1.8 million cancer deaths in the 292 control counties during the 35 years studied. Deaths due to leukemia or other cancers were not more frequent in the study counties than in the control counties. For childhood leukemia mortality, the relative risk comparing the study counties with their controls before plant start-up was 1.08, while after start-up it was 1.03. For leukemia mortality at all ages, the relative risks were 1.02 before start-up and 0.98 after. For counties in two states, cancer incidence data were also available. For one facility, the standardized registration ratio for childhood leukemia was increased significantly after start-up. However, the increase also antedated the operation of this facility. The study is limited by the correlational approach and the large size of the geographic areas (counties) used. It does not prove the absence of any effect. If, however, any excess cancer risk was present in US counties with nuclear facilities, it was too small to be detected with the methods employed.
- OSTI ID:
- 5703795
- Journal Information:
- JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association; (USA), Vol. 265:11; ISSN 0098-7484
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Cancer mortality and radioactive fallout in southwestern Utah
Cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities. Volume 1. Report and summary
Related Subjects
LEUKEMIA
RADIOINDUCTION
LYMPHOMAS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIATION HAZARDS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASE INCIDENCE
MORTALITY
RISK ASSESSMENT
SURVEYS
UNITED KINGDOM
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DISEASES
EUROPE
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEMIC DISEASES
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
NEOPLASMS
RADIATION EFFECTS
WESTERN EUROPE
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals
560161 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man