[ RadSafe ] Natural gamma rays linked to childhood leukaemia

[radbloom at comcast.net]

John, 

  

I agree that it would be very interesting to see the data.  Although the number of cases (10s of thousands from the cancer registry plus controls) sounds interesting, the lack of mention of confounders is disheartening.  I also think it would have been interesting to see the radiation exposure levels attributed to the "exposed" and the controls.  I would also like to see whether there were any investigations of whether the children's exposures occurred in single localities or whether there were multiple locations that were assigned during the considered exposure periods.  On the surface, I feel there would be so many confounders that any risk association would be tentative at best, and might not at all be linked to causation. 

  

The article states, " 'We have estimated that about 15% of the 500 or so cases of childhood leukaemia which occur annually in the UK are due to natural background radiation."  Seems like they are saying that if there were no natural radiation exposure, childhood leukemia incidence would be reduced by 15% in the UK.  I am unconvinced.  Looking forward to seeing more data. 

  

Cindy 


----- Original Message -----




From: "John E. Dixon (CDC/ ONDIEH / NCEH )" <gyf7@ cdc .gov> 
To: "The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List" < radsafe @health.phys. iit . edu > 
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 8:08:21 AM 
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Natural gamma rays linked to childhood leukaemia 

I would love to see all of the data. Seems that this "study" is making a HUGE reach. Humans are all born into a field of background radiation. Have these folks looked into the other end of the spectrum here? What does the ABSENCE of all radiation (if that is even possible) do to the childhood leukemia rate? 

Regards, 

John E. Dixon, CHP 

-----Original Message----- 
From: radsafe -bounces at health.phys. iit . edu [ mailto : radsafe -bounces at health.phys. iit . edu ] On Behalf Of ROY HERREN 
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 2:22 AM 
To: radsafe @ agni .phys. iit . edu 
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Natural gamma rays linked to childhood leukaemia 

http :// www .ox.ac. uk /media/news_stories/2012/120612. html 
  Natural gamma rays linked to childhood leukaemia 
  
A small but statistically significant link between risk of childhood leukaemia and the gamma rays we are all exposed to from our natural environment has been detected in a very large study led by Oxford University researchers. 
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