[ RadSafe ] Causes of leukemia

[Robert Bradley]

A recent Workshop in Berlin on Childhood Leukemia (May 5-7, 2008) brought
together experts from all fields.  A link to the Workshop site with
presentations is accessible via this link.

http://www.icnirp.de/WChildhoodLeukemia.htm

The risks factors reviewed were many and varied.  No one factor dominated
the findings.

-    -  RPB
Health Canada, retired

On Sun, May 1, 2011 at 2:12 PM, Steven Dapra <sjd at swcp.com> wrote:

> May 1
>
>        "There is an increased risk to children exposed to diagnostic
> radiation, particularly in the first trimester.  A higher incidence of
> leukemia was found in several early studies in which irradiation was used to
> treat thymic enlargement in neonates, tinea capitis infection, or ankylosing
> spondylitis."
>
>        "There is considerable controversy about the potential risks
> associated with exposure to ionizing radiation from routine nuclear power
> plant emissions.  Although an association between exposure to
> electromagnetic fields and the development of childhood ALL [Acute
> Lymphoblastic Leukemia] has been reported it has not been confirmed."
>
> (from: Cancer Principles and Practice of Oncology, Vol. 2, p. 1793.)
>
>        "Ionising radiation, benzene and certain drugs and industrial
> exposures are known to be leukaemogenic, but the known causes are unlikely
> to account for a large proportion of cases either in adults or children.
>
> (from: Trends in Cancer; World Health Organization, p. 737)
>
>        "Leukemia strikes both sexes and all ages.  Causes of most leukemias
> are unknown.  Persons with Down syndrome and certain other genetic
> abnormalities have higher than usual incidence rate of leukemia.  It has
> also been linked to excessive exposure to ionizing radiation and to certain
> chemicals such as benzene. . . .   Certain forms of leukemia and lymphoma
> are caused by a retrovirus, HTLV-I (human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus-I).
>
> (from: American Cancer Society, 1996)
>
>        The link below is to a 'scroll-through' article in the NIH's Senior
> Health section.  The fourth and fifth pages at this link note that benzene
> is a risk factor for leukemia, and that benzene is found in cigarette smoke.
>  "It is estimated that about half of the benzene exposure in the United
> States is from cigarette smoke. Smoking is a risk factor for leukemia."
>
>        Also at this site, on page three, we read, "More than 65 percent of
> people diagnosed with leukemia are over 55."
>
> http://nihseniorhealth.gov/leukemia/whoisatrisk/01.html
>
> Steven Dapra
>
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