Study Finds No Nuclear Plant Cancer Link

The overall number of cancer-related deaths over two decades did not increase among people living near British nuclear power plants, according to a study published Thursday.

But the death rate from childhood leukemia among those living within six miles of nuclear reactors was twice as high as among those living far from such installations, an analysis of the survey showed.

The researchers said, however, that the extra deaths did not exceed one or two a year, and there was no clear link with radiation exposure.

Overall, deaths from 22 types of cancer were lower--not higher as alleged by anti-nuclear campaigners--in the vicinity of 15 nuclear reactors than they were at distant locations, according to scientists at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund’s Epidemiology and Clinical Trials Unit at Oxford.

Richard Doll, acting director of the research unit, said the hazard was small “in comparison with other hazards that you get with life, whatever you’re doing.”