Epidemiologic Studies of Cancer in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities

Abstract

We reviewed over 40 epidemiologic studies around nuclear power stations, fuel reprocessing plants, and weapons production facilities and testing sites in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Canada. We examined these studies for their potential to support a cause and effect relationship between cancer risk and radiation exposure. The extent to which an epidemiologic study supports a causal relation between radiation exposure and increased cancer risk can be evaluated using a set of criteria that have become known as Hill's postulates. In our review, epidemiologic studies yielded results that were biologically plausible and were supported by experimental data, but in almost all of the studies the methodologies were not adequate for evaluating causality. In the majority of cases, the methodologies did not permit examination of dose-response associations, making it impossible to support or refute causal relations. We suggest that investigators consider these issues when designing studies and employ dose reconstruction methodology to estimate radiation doses for specific individuals and population groups.

Study of EPR/ESR Dosimetry in Fingernails as a Method for Assessing Dose of Victims of Radiological Accidents/Incidents

“…and other biological samples and pieces of clothing from potentially exposed individuals. The inherent difficulties in collecting and processing biological samples have been addressed by previous authors [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Preliminary studies have used calcified tissues, alanine, various sugars, quartz in rocks and sulfates, as EPR dosimeters [15].…”

Leucémies chez les moins de 25 ans autour d'installations nucléaires en France et à létranger : revue des études épidémiologiques descriptives

“…À partir des années 90, des études analytiques, principalement des études castémoins, ont été menées pour rechercher les facteurs qui pourraient expliquer des excès de leucémies localisés (Shleien et al, 1991). On peut recenser trois hypothèses principales : l'exposition des pères aux rayonnements ionisants avant la conception des enfants, l'exposition environnementale aux rayonnements ionisants et l'hypothèse infectieuse.…”

Radiological Releases and Environmental Monitoring at Commercial Nuclear Power Plants

“…Harris (2007) performed a study to look at the doses for maximally exposed individuals from all plants. A review of epidemiological studies of cancer in populations near nuclear facilities showed that in all scientific reports analyzing nuclear power plants, a cause and effect relationship between cancer risk and radiation exposure could not be found (Patrick, 1977;Jablon et al, 1990;Shleien et al, 1991;Lopez-Abente et al, 1999).…”