[ RadSafe ] conclusions of North Wales childhood leukaemia studies

[Marcel Schouwenburg]

News from the UK. (received through another list [srp])

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Radiation committee confirms conclusions of North Wales childhood 
leukaemia studies

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites/documents/368/050330MenaiStraits1.pdf

The National Public Health Service for Wales has welcomed a statement by 
the Committee on
Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) on studies into 
childhood
leukaemia in North Wales.
A study into childhood leukaemia, brain tumours and retinoblastoma
near the Menai Straits by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance 
Unit (WCISU) showed
there was no evidence to link the diseases with nuclear discharges. This 
was supported by
a report on Childhood Cancer Incidence in Gwynedd and Anglesey by the 
National Public
Health Service for Wales (NPHS Wales). Both reports were responding to 
claims contained in a
report prepared by Green Audit, an environmental consultancy and review 
organisation.
The COMARE statement confirms that the analysis and methodology used
by WCISU and the interpretation given by NPHS Wales was appropriate. It 
also stated
that "The Green Audit analyses have several significant weaknesses and 
cannot be regarded
as reliable."
Andrew Jones, Leader of the Environmental Team for NPHS Wales,
said, "People living in North Wales can be reassured by this statement. 
There is no evidence
of an increase in retinoblastoma or in tumours of the brain and spine in 
the Menai
Straits area. Although WCISU did find levels of childhood leukaemia that 
were raised in the
more recent period, their studies involve small numbers of cases which 
makes it
impossible for firm conclusions to be drawn."
John Steward, Director of the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and
Surveillance Unit (WCISU) said, "In studies involving such small numbers 
of actual cases it is
not possible to conclude whether findings are unusual or simply due to 
random chance. WCISU
is committed to continuing with our ongoing surveillance and 
geographical analysis
of childhood cancers across the North Wales coastline and this has been 
supported by
COMARE".
COMARE has also recommended, subject to ethical and practical 
considerations, that further
work is undertaken to investigate the apparent discrepancy in the number 
of cancer cases
identified. WCISU is happy to explore this issue.
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Marcel Schouwenburg - RadSafe moderator & List owner
Head Training Center Delft
National Center for Radiation Protection (Dutch abbr. NCSV)

Faculty of Applied Sciences / Reactor Institute Delft
Delft University of Technology
Mekelweg 15
NL - 2629 JB  DELFT
The Netherlands
Phone +31 (0)15 27 86575
Fax     +31 (0)15 27 81717
email   m.schouwenburg at tnw.tudelft.nl