[ RadSafe ] Meta-analysis of standardized incidence and mortality rates of childhood leukaemia in proximity to nuclear facilities

[Peter Bossew]

New article:

P.J. BAKER phd, D.G. HOEL phd (2007)
Meta-analysis of standardized incidence and mortality rates of childhood 
leukaemia in proximity to nuclear facilities
European Journal of Cancer Care 16 (4), 355–363.
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2007.00679.x
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2354.2007.00679.x


Abstract:
The meta-analysis combined and statistically analysed studies of 
childhood leukaemia and nuclear facilities. Focus was on studies that 
calculated standardized rates for individual facilities. Due to 
variability between study designs, eight separate analyses were 
performed stratified by age and zone. One hundred and thirty-six sites 
were used in at least one analysis. Unadjusted, fixed effects and random 
effects models were used. Meta-rates greater than one were found in all 
models at all stratification levels often achieving statistical 
significance. Caution must be used when interpreting these results. The 
meta-analysis was able to show an increase in childhood leukaemia near 
nuclear facilities, but does not support a hypothesis to explain the 
excess. Each type of model utilized has limitations. Fixed effects 
models give greater weight to larger studies; however, population 
density may be a risk factor. Random effects models give greater weight 
to smaller studies that may be more likely to be affected by publication 
bias. A limitation of the overall study design is that standardized 
rates must be available for individual sites which led to exclusion of 
studies that only calculated rates for multiple sites and those that 
presented other statistical methods. Further, dose-response studies do 
not support excess rates found near nuclear facilities. However, it 
cannot be ignored that the majority of studies have found elevated 
rates, although not usually statistically significant.

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comments ?
pb


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Peter Bossew 

European Commission (EC) 
Joint Research Centre (JRC) 
Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) 

TP 441, Via Fermi 1 
21020 Ispra (VA) 
ITALY 
  
Tel. +39 0332 78 9109 
Fax. +39 0332 78 5466 
Email: peter.bossew at jrc.it 

WWW: http://rem.jrc.cec.eu.int 
  
"The views expressed are purely those of the writer and may not in any
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Commission."