Key Issues
Radiation Safety at Nuclear Power Plants: Studies Look at Public, Workers
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British Studies
A study by the U.K. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) showed no rise in cancer near nuclear installations in England and Wales—either for young persons or adults—even when focusing on types of cancer particularly associated with exposure to ionizing radiation, such as leukemia, bone cancer and multiple myeloma.
Investigators analyzed 8 million separate occurrences of cancer from 1959 to 1980, taking into account the distances from nuclear facilities. A follow-up analysis of the OPCS data by Sir Richard Doll of Oxford University confirmed nearly all of the initial findings but detected a small excess of childhood leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease near older U.K. nuclear sites.
The Oxford researchers attributed the apparent excess to comparisons with control areas that had particularly low cancer mortality, but they suggested additional study.
French Study
A study by two French researchers—reported in the Oct. 25, 1990, issue of Nature—found no increase in childhood leukemia near six nuclear installations in France between 1968 and 1987. The facilities included four nuclear power plants and the nuclear fuel reprocessing plants at La Hague and Marcoule.
Canadian Study
A study released in 1991 by the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, commissioned by Canada’s Atomic Energy Control Board, found no statistically significant increase in leukemia among children born to mothers living near five nuclear sites in Ontario province.
Researchers examined data for 1,894 children, aged 14 years or younger, who died from leukemia between 1950 and 1987 and who lived within 15 miles of five Canadian nuclear facilities. The facilities were Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering and Bruce Power’s Bruce nuclear power plants, the Elliot Lake uranium mines and mills, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.’s Chalk River nuclear laboratories, and a former 20-megawatt nuclear station at Rolphton. Near the Chalk River laboratories, childhood leukemia was one-third of the expected rate. Near the Pickering power station, there were 33 childhood leukemia deaths between 1971 and 1987, more than the 25 statistically expected. However, the rate also was elevated during the 20 years before the station entered service.
West Valley Study
A study by doctors at the University of Buffalo Medical School found no in-crease in cancer incidence among people living in seven towns near a former nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at West Valley in western New York. In fact, the doctors observed a slight reduction in cancer incidence. The study covered 1973 to 1983.
British Studies
A study by the U.K. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) showed no rise in cancer near nuclear installations in England and Wales—either for young persons or adults—even when focusing on types of cancer particularly associated with exposure to ionizing radiation, such as leukemia, bone cancer and multiple myeloma.
Investigators analyzed 8 million separate occurrences of cancer from 1959 to 1980, taking into account the distances from nuclear facilities. A follow-up analysis of the OPCS data by Sir Richard Doll of Oxford University confirmed nearly all of the initial findings but detected a small excess of childhood leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease near older U.K. nuclear sites.
The Oxford researchers attributed the apparent excess to comparisons with control areas that had particularly low cancer mortality, but they suggested additional study.
French Study
A study by two French researchers—reported in the Oct. 25, 1990, issue of Nature—found no increase in childhood leukemia near six nuclear installations in France between 1968 and 1987. The facilities included four nuclear power plants and the nuclear fuel reprocessing plants at La Hague and Marcoule.
Canadian Study
A study released in 1991 by the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, commissioned by Canada’s Atomic Energy Control Board, found no statistically significant increase in leukemia among children born to mothers living near five nuclear sites in Ontario province.
Researchers examined data for 1,894 children, aged 14 years or younger, who died from leukemia between 1950 and 1987 and who lived within 15 miles of five Canadian nuclear facilities. The facilities were Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering and Bruce Power’s Bruce nuclear power plants, the Elliot Lake uranium mines and mills, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.’s Chalk River nuclear laboratories, and a former 20-megawatt nuclear station at Rolphton. Near the Chalk River laboratories, childhood leukemia was one-third of the expected rate. Near the Pickering power station, there were 33 childhood leukemia deaths between 1971 and 1987, more than the 25 statistically expected. However, the rate also was elevated during the 20 years before the station entered service.
West Valley Study
A study by doctors at the University of Buffalo Medical School found no in-crease in cancer incidence among people living in seven towns near a former nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at West Valley in western New York. In fact, the doctors observed a slight reduction in cancer incidence. The study covered 1973 to 1983.
