Concern over low level radiation risk from nuclear power stations

Concern over low level radiation risk from nuclear power stations

Two organisations, CANE (Communities Against Nuclear Expansion) and LLRC (Low Level Radiation Campaign) are pressing for a full, in-depth and independent study (such as the KiKK study carried out in Germany) followed by a comprehensive report into the effects on health of radiation in all local areas where there are nuclear plant and installations.

In Germany in recent years there has been growing public concern about childhood cancers and leukaemia round nuclear power plants. Public outcry led the government to commission an "Epidemiological Study on Childhood Cancer in the Vicinity of Nuclear Power Plants (Epidemiologische Studie zu Kinderkrebs in der Umgebung von Kernkraftwerken), known by the acronym KiKK.

The study area included 41 counties in the vicinity of all 16 German nuclear power plants. It found that children younger than 5 years old living within 5 km of a nuclear plant were more than twice as likely to develop leukaemia compared with children living more than 5 km distant. A significant increase in leukaemia was also observed up to 10 km distant.

It is generally acknowledged that the KiKK study was well designed and that its findings cannot be ignored. A large problem however is that, in the absence of information about exposure to radioactivity, the study used proximity to the power stations as a surrogate indicator of exposure. The usual official mindset has swung into action to deny causation and to look for causes other than direct irradiation or exposure to radioactive emissions.

To find out more check www.llrc.org or contact CANE.