[ RadSafe ] Child cancer risk higher near nuclear plants: study

[Steven Dapra]

Dec. 10

         I'll make a few comments.

         "Our study confirmed that in Germany a connection has been 
observed between the distance of a domicile to the nearest nuclear power 
plant .... and the risk of developing cancer, such as leukemia, before the 
fifth birthday," Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper quoted the report as 
saying.  What *kind* of a connection has been observed?  How strong is it?

According to the Yahoo article, the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said: The 
researchers found that 37 children within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius of 
nuclear power plants had developed leukemia between 1980 and 2003, while 
the statistical average during this time period was 17.  (Yahoo does not 
have this is quote marks, hence I am assuming that Yahoo is paraphrasing 
the Suddeutsche Zeitung.)

         To me, the obvious question is: how long had these children been 
living within three miles of the plants?  Presumably, the study explains 
this.  It would certainly be helpful to know how long they had been living 
within the three mile radius.

         Also from the Yahoo article:  "The newspaper cited an unnamed 
radiation protection expert familiar with the study who said its 
conclusions understated the problem. He said the data showed there was an 
increased cancer risk for children living within 50 kilometers of a 
reactor."  Who is the 'unnamed expert'?  Why wasn't he named?  Was he 
(she?) one of Rosalie Bertell's or Helen Caldicott's ideological kindred 
spirits?  What are the credentials of this "expert"?  Has he published 
anything, and if so, what and where?  He sounds like a reincarnation of 
John Gofman.

Steven Dapra
sjd at swcp.com



At 11:03 AM 12/10/07 +0000, Bjorn Cedervall wrote:

>Radsafers,
>
>Any comments to the following?:
>http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071208/hl_nm/cancer_germany_dc
>
>My personal action only,
>
>Bjorn Cedervall   bcradsafers at hotmail.com