German Study: More Childhood Cancer near Nuclear Power Plants

Researchers from the University of Mainz found that 37 children living within a radius of five kilometers from reactors developed leukemia, whereas only 17 new cases were to be anticipated on the basis of the statistical average for the study period from 1980 to 2003. Consequently, the analysis concludes that 20 additional leukemia cases are related to the fact that the children live so close to the nuclear power plants. "Our study confirms that in Germany a relationship is observable between the proximity of the home to the nearest nuclear power plant at the time of diagnosis and the risk of contracting cancer (respectively leukemia) before the child's fifth birthday," the researchers write.