Nuclear workers children at higher risk of leukemia
A study published in the New Scientist shows that children of men exposed to radiation while working at Sellafield are at twice the normal risk of contracting leukemia and lymphoma. Concern about this was previously expressed in a report published by Martin Gardner in 1990. But Gardners conclusions were critised by others.
The new survey was carried out by Heather Dickinson from the University of Newcastle and looked at the cases of 9859 children whose fathers had been exposed to radiation at Sellafield, compared with 256,851 other children in Cumbria. The incidence of leukemia and lymphoma was twice as high in the children of those exposed to radiation, and 15 times as high in the village of Seascale next to the plant.
The research was funded by BNFL, the operators of Sellafield.
This is of particular concern for Scotland. There have been previous reports of leukemia clusters in Dumfriesshire (close to Chapelcross and Sellafield) and around Dounreay. There are also nuclear power stations at Hunterston and Torness and nuclear submarine work at Faslane and Rosyth.
Additional information:
Le Hague - leukemia cases around French nuclear reprocessing plant - increased risk among children spending time on beaches and where pregnant mother spent time on beaches
Sellafield - studies since 1983, tenfold increase above normal found in village of Seascale near Sellafield
US cluster in Churchill County- nuclear test site one possible explanation
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