Childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma near large rural construction sites, with a comparison with Sellafield nuclear site
BMJ 1995; 310 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6982.763 (Published 25 March 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;310:763
- a Cancer Research Campaign Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford OX2 6HE LJ Kinlen, director
- b Childhood Cancer Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6HJ
- Correspondence to: Dr Kinlen.
- Accepted 31 January 1995
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether population mixing produced by large, non-nuclear construction projects in rural areas is associated with an increase in childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymhoma.
Design: A study of the incidence of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among children living near large construction projects in Britain since 1945, situated more than 20 km from a population centre, involving a workforce of more than 1000, and built over three or more calendar years. For periods before 1962 mortality was studied.
Setting: Areas within 10 km of relevant sites, and the highland counties of Scotland with many hydroelectric schemes.
Subjects: Children aged under 15.
Results: A 37% excess of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at 0-14 years of age was recorded during construction and the following calendar year. The excesses were greater at times when construction workers and operating staff overlapped (72%), particularly in areas of relatively high social class. For several sites the excesses were similar to or greater than that near the nuclear site of Sellafield (67%), which is distinctive in its large workforce with many construction workers. Seascale, near Sellafield, with a ninefold increase had an unusually high proportion of residents in social class I. The only study parish of comparable social class also showed a significant excess, with a confidence interval that included the Seascale excess.
Conclusion: The findings support the infection hypothesis and reinforce the view that the excess of childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma near Sellafield has a similar explanation.
Key messages
Key messages
Large construction projects in rural areas entail such mixing because the workforces are drawn from a wide area
A significant excess of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma combined has been found in areas near large, non-nuclear construction projects in rural Britain over the past 50 years, similar to that near Sellafield
The high incidence of these diseases in Seascale children appears to be due to the high proportion of susceptible subjects consequent on the unusually high social class and the regular addition of new children to the parish
The findings are further evidence that the excess of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma near Sellafield is due to an infective process; probably the excesses found in the present study would have been noticed earlier had there been a local source of radiation
Footnotes
- Accepted 31 January 1995