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Young people living near nuclear facilities in the UK since the 1990s are not at an increased risk of developing cancer, according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Researchers studied cancer rates between 1963 and 2006 among individuals under age 25 who were living near Sellafield—a nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria, England—or Dounreay, the site of 2 nuclear facilities in the highlands of Scotland—when diagnosed.
The team found no difference in cancer incidence from 1991 to 2006 between people living near the nuclear power plants and the general population.
However, the study confirmed an increased risk of cancers, particularly leukemia, already reported for earlier time periods.
“For many years, there have been concerns over the potential raised cancer risk among people—particularly children—who live near nuclear installations,” said study author Kathryn Bunch, of the University of Oxford in the UK.
“This study found that children, teenagers, and young adults living close to Sellafield and Dounreay are no longer at an increased risk of developing cancer. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any increased risk of cancer later in life for those who were born near these power plants.”
Sellafield analysis
The researchers performed a cross-sectional analysis using census data to derive age-specific estimates of cancer incidence for 3 areas:
- Seascale, the village closest to Sellafield
- The county districts of Allerdale and Copeland, which are relatively close to Sellafield; Seascale is located in Copeland, but this group excludes the Seascale ward
- The remainder of Cumbria.
Ages 0 to 14
There was a significantly increased risk of leukemia in the Seascale ward for patients aged 0 to 14 years from 1963 to 1983—standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 9.85 (P<0.01)—and from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 6.85 (P<0.01).
There was also a significantly increased risk of all malignancies in the Seascale ward from 1963 to 1983—SIR of 4.12 (P<0.05)—and from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 3.58 (P<0.01).
There was no increased risk of leukemia or other malignancies in the Copeland and Allerdale county districts for any time period. However, there was an increased risk of leukemia from 1984 to 1990 for individuals living in the remainder of Cumbria—SIR 1.56 (P<0.05).
Ages 15 to 24
There was no increased risk in leukemia cases among 15-to-24-year-olds in the Seascale ward for any time period. However, there was an increased risk for other tumors—SIR 10.61 (P<0.05)—and all malignancies combined—SIR 9.25 (P<0.05)—from 1984 to 1990.
There was no increased risk of leukemia or other malignancies in Copeland and Allerdale county districts for any time period.
In the remainder of Cumbria, there was a decreased risk of leukemia and all malignancies combined from 1963 to 2006—SIRs of 0.58 and 0.85, respectively (P<0.05 for both).
Dounreay analysis
The researchers analyzed 2 geographical areas surrounding the Dounreay nuclear facilities. The area closest to Dounreay consists of the civil parishes of Thurso and Reay. The second area consists of the remaining civil parishes of Caithness, which is a much larger area but has a relatively sparse population.
For individuals aged 0 to 14, there was no increased incidence of leukemia or other malignancies for any time period or either geographic area.
In Thurso and Reay, there was an increased risk of leukemia among individuals aged 15 to 24, from 1984 to 1990—SIR of 9.22 (P<0.05).
In the remaining civil parishes of Caithness, the older age group had a decreased risk of all malignancies from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 0.55 (P<0.05).
The researchers said these results suggest that children, adolescents, and young adults living near Sellafield and Dounreay in recent years do not have an increased risk of leukemia or other cancers.
However, the analyses did indicate an increased incidence of leukemia and other cancers for earlier time periods.
“There has been a lot of concern that nuclear power stations could increase the risk of cancer, particularly leukemia,” said Julie Sharp, PhD, of Cancer Research UK, which funded this research.
“This study is reassuring for anyone who happens to be living near a power plant, as it shows no increased risk among children, teenagers, or young adults in recent years.” 
Young people living near nuclear facilities in the UK since the 1990s are not at an increased risk of developing cancer, according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Researchers studied cancer rates between 1963 and 2006 among individuals under age 25 who were living near Sellafield—a nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria, England—or Dounreay, the site of 2 nuclear facilities in the highlands of Scotland—when diagnosed.
The team found no difference in cancer incidence from 1991 to 2006 between people living near the nuclear power plants and the general population.
However, the study confirmed an increased risk of cancers, particularly leukemia, already reported for earlier time periods.
“For many years, there have been concerns over the potential raised cancer risk among people—particularly children—who live near nuclear installations,” said study author Kathryn Bunch, of the University of Oxford in the UK.
“This study found that children, teenagers, and young adults living close to Sellafield and Dounreay are no longer at an increased risk of developing cancer. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any increased risk of cancer later in life for those who were born near these power plants.”
Sellafield analysis
The researchers performed a cross-sectional analysis using census data to derive age-specific estimates of cancer incidence for 3 areas:
- Seascale, the village closest to Sellafield
- The county districts of Allerdale and Copeland, which are relatively close to Sellafield; Seascale is located in Copeland, but this group excludes the Seascale ward
- The remainder of Cumbria.
Ages 0 to 14
There was a significantly increased risk of leukemia in the Seascale ward for patients aged 0 to 14 years from 1963 to 1983—standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 9.85 (P<0.01)—and from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 6.85 (P<0.01).
There was also a significantly increased risk of all malignancies in the Seascale ward from 1963 to 1983—SIR of 4.12 (P<0.05)—and from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 3.58 (P<0.01).
There was no increased risk of leukemia or other malignancies in the Copeland and Allerdale county districts for any time period. However, there was an increased risk of leukemia from 1984 to 1990 for individuals living in the remainder of Cumbria—SIR 1.56 (P<0.05).
Ages 15 to 24
There was no increased risk in leukemia cases among 15-to-24-year-olds in the Seascale ward for any time period. However, there was an increased risk for other tumors—SIR 10.61 (P<0.05)—and all malignancies combined—SIR 9.25 (P<0.05)—from 1984 to 1990.
There was no increased risk of leukemia or other malignancies in Copeland and Allerdale county districts for any time period.
In the remainder of Cumbria, there was a decreased risk of leukemia and all malignancies combined from 1963 to 2006—SIRs of 0.58 and 0.85, respectively (P<0.05 for both).
Dounreay analysis
The researchers analyzed 2 geographical areas surrounding the Dounreay nuclear facilities. The area closest to Dounreay consists of the civil parishes of Thurso and Reay. The second area consists of the remaining civil parishes of Caithness, which is a much larger area but has a relatively sparse population.
For individuals aged 0 to 14, there was no increased incidence of leukemia or other malignancies for any time period or either geographic area.
In Thurso and Reay, there was an increased risk of leukemia among individuals aged 15 to 24, from 1984 to 1990—SIR of 9.22 (P<0.05).
In the remaining civil parishes of Caithness, the older age group had a decreased risk of all malignancies from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 0.55 (P<0.05).
The researchers said these results suggest that children, adolescents, and young adults living near Sellafield and Dounreay in recent years do not have an increased risk of leukemia or other cancers.
However, the analyses did indicate an increased incidence of leukemia and other cancers for earlier time periods.
“There has been a lot of concern that nuclear power stations could increase the risk of cancer, particularly leukemia,” said Julie Sharp, PhD, of Cancer Research UK, which funded this research.
“This study is reassuring for anyone who happens to be living near a power plant, as it shows no increased risk among children, teenagers, or young adults in recent years.”
Young people living near nuclear facilities in the UK since the 1990s are not at an increased risk of developing cancer, according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Researchers studied cancer rates between 1963 and 2006 among individuals under age 25 who were living near Sellafield—a nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria, England—or Dounreay, the site of 2 nuclear facilities in the highlands of Scotland—when diagnosed.
The team found no difference in cancer incidence from 1991 to 2006 between people living near the nuclear power plants and the general population.
However, the study confirmed an increased risk of cancers, particularly leukemia, already reported for earlier time periods.
“For many years, there have been concerns over the potential raised cancer risk among people—particularly children—who live near nuclear installations,” said study author Kathryn Bunch, of the University of Oxford in the UK.
“This study found that children, teenagers, and young adults living close to Sellafield and Dounreay are no longer at an increased risk of developing cancer. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any increased risk of cancer later in life for those who were born near these power plants.”
Sellafield analysis
The researchers performed a cross-sectional analysis using census data to derive age-specific estimates of cancer incidence for 3 areas:
- Seascale, the village closest to Sellafield
- The county districts of Allerdale and Copeland, which are relatively close to Sellafield; Seascale is located in Copeland, but this group excludes the Seascale ward
- The remainder of Cumbria.
Ages 0 to 14
There was a significantly increased risk of leukemia in the Seascale ward for patients aged 0 to 14 years from 1963 to 1983—standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 9.85 (P<0.01)—and from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 6.85 (P<0.01).
There was also a significantly increased risk of all malignancies in the Seascale ward from 1963 to 1983—SIR of 4.12 (P<0.05)—and from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 3.58 (P<0.01).
There was no increased risk of leukemia or other malignancies in the Copeland and Allerdale county districts for any time period. However, there was an increased risk of leukemia from 1984 to 1990 for individuals living in the remainder of Cumbria—SIR 1.56 (P<0.05).
Ages 15 to 24
There was no increased risk in leukemia cases among 15-to-24-year-olds in the Seascale ward for any time period. However, there was an increased risk for other tumors—SIR 10.61 (P<0.05)—and all malignancies combined—SIR 9.25 (P<0.05)—from 1984 to 1990.
There was no increased risk of leukemia or other malignancies in Copeland and Allerdale county districts for any time period.
In the remainder of Cumbria, there was a decreased risk of leukemia and all malignancies combined from 1963 to 2006—SIRs of 0.58 and 0.85, respectively (P<0.05 for both).
Dounreay analysis
The researchers analyzed 2 geographical areas surrounding the Dounreay nuclear facilities. The area closest to Dounreay consists of the civil parishes of Thurso and Reay. The second area consists of the remaining civil parishes of Caithness, which is a much larger area but has a relatively sparse population.
For individuals aged 0 to 14, there was no increased incidence of leukemia or other malignancies for any time period or either geographic area.
In Thurso and Reay, there was an increased risk of leukemia among individuals aged 15 to 24, from 1984 to 1990—SIR of 9.22 (P<0.05).
In the remaining civil parishes of Caithness, the older age group had a decreased risk of all malignancies from 1963 to 2006—SIR of 0.55 (P<0.05).
The researchers said these results suggest that children, adolescents, and young adults living near Sellafield and Dounreay in recent years do not have an increased risk of leukemia or other cancers.
However, the analyses did indicate an increased incidence of leukemia and other cancers for earlier time periods.
“There has been a lot of concern that nuclear power stations could increase the risk of cancer, particularly leukemia,” said Julie Sharp, PhD, of Cancer Research UK, which funded this research.
“This study is reassuring for anyone who happens to be living near a power plant, as it shows no increased risk among children, teenagers, or young adults in recent years.”