‘No cancer risk’ from nuclear power stations

There is no increased risk of childhood cancer from living near nuclear power stations, a new report has claimed.

Research by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) found that, overall, there was “no evidence” of increased risk of developing cancer in any area within 25km of a nuclear power station.

The authors of the study, which involved over 32,000 cases of childhood cancer in Britain between 1969 and 1993, said that the results showed similar results to previous studies, however, which had found excess cases of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in some areas near other nuclear installations, not power stations.

The study found an excess of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases near Burghfield, Dounreay and Sellafield and a “significantly raised incidence” of solid tumours in the vicinity of Aldermaston, Burghfield and Harwell.

However, one site did differ from previously published results. At Rosyth, researchers found that the incidence of leukaemia and NHL in children living within 25km of the site was close to expected figures, although there was “evidence of a trend in risk” with distance from the plant.

However, researchers said although the findings differed from previous studies, similar, but not identical, methods had been used. Researchers concluded that it was not possible to determine whether was a higher risk of leukaemia or NHL from living close to the Rosyth site.

The report has been welcomed by Cancer Research UK, although the charity said that the excess of cases near some other nuclear sites remained a “real worry”.

However, environmental group Green Audit said the study of 25km areas around stations and installations was “meaningless”. The group also urged the researchers to examine cases of adult cancers in these areas.

(KMcA/SP)