[ RadSafe ] BBC Reports "Nuclear workers' cancer risk rise

[davidhelton1 at bellsouth.net]

What did they use as a control group? I could also say that water causes cancer and no one could disprove because water is essential to life and there could be no control group.

David K. Helton

> 
> From: "Fred Dawson" <fd003f0606 at blueyonder.co.uk>
> Date: 2005/06/29 Wed PM 12:11:56 EDT
> To: <radsafe at radlab.nl>
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] BBC Reports "Nuclear workers' cancer risk rise
> 
> BBC Reports "Nuclear workers' cancer risk rise 
> 
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4629461.stm
> 
> also see
> 
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/nuclear/article/0,2763,1516929,00.html
> 
> 
> Exposure to a low level of radiation is linked to a small increase in a
> person's cancer risk, a study of nuclear power station workers found.
> An international team studied over 407,000 workers in 15 countries, who
> were followed up for around 13 years. 
> 
> The British Medical Journal study estimates up to 2% of cancer deaths
> were due to radiation exposure.  
> 
> But they said the increased risk did not apply to people living near to
> power stations. 
> 
> Ionising radiation is a well known cancer-causing agent. 
> 
> Current radiation protection recommendations are to limit occupational
> doses to 100 millisieverts (mSv) over five years and doses to the public
> to 1 mSv per year. 
> 
> These guidelines were based mainly on data from survivors of the atomic
> bomb in Japan and the extrapolation of risks to the general population
> and radiation workers is controversial.  
> 
> Researchers studied the thousands of nuclear industry workers in order
> to get a better idea of their risk. 
> 
> Hiroshima 
> Most were men and had been employed for at least one year in nuclear
> power production facilities, or in related activities such as research,
> waste management or fuel and weapons production.  
> 
> Ninety per cent of workers were exposed to a cumulative dose of under
> 50mSv, and less than 1% over 500mSv.  
> 
> Factors such as age, duration of employment, and socioeconomic status
> were taken into account when the researchers looked at the workers.  
> 
> Just under 200 died from leukaemias, and 6,519 from other cancers.  
> 
> The researchers say, that from their evidence, 1 to 2% of deaths from
> cancer among workers in this study may be attributable to radiation. 
> 
> The risk estimates from the study are consistent with those used for
> current radiation protection standards, they say.  
> 
> And they add that many of the workers in this study worked in the early
> years of the industry when doses tended to be higher than they are
> today. 
> 
> 'Vigilence' 
> Dr Colin Muirhead, of the Radiological Protection Division of the Health
> Protection Agency, who worked on the study, told the BBC News website:
> "This is what we expected to see, because even with a low does of
> radiation, there would be a cancer risk.  
> 
> He added: "The levels of exposure we saw in this study are much lower
> than were seen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  
> 
> "In absolute terms, it is a fairly small increase in risk."  
> 
> He said workers in the industry should be reassured by the study's
> findings. 
> 
> "At an individual level it will make a very small difference."  
> 
> And he said the results also fitted in with studies which had found no
> link between cancer risk and living near a nuclear power station.  
> 
> "It's certain that for the population, exposure would be much lower than
> what we're talking about here.  "There is no inconsistency."  
> 
> Professor John Toy, Medical Director at Cancer Research UK, said:
> "Radiation is a very well known carcinogen.  
> 
> "This extremely large study shows an increased risk, albeit small, of
> cancer and most types of leukaemia associated with occupational low-dose
> radiation exposure."  
> 
> He added: "The radiation risk estimates are statistically comparable
> with those used for current radiation protection standards.  
> 
> "The nuclear industry must remain ever vigilant to ensure these
> standards are not breached and constantly endeavour to reduce the
> exposure of its workers to radiation." " 
> 
> Fred Dawson
> 
> 
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