| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3988695 | Journal of Cancer Policy | 2015 | 13 Pages |
•Previous studies show unclear results of nuclear power plants (NPPs) and childhood leukemia.•Study design features, including metrics of distance, can affect resulting risk estimates.•Studies of children living <25 km of NPPs indicated little evidence of childhood leukemia risks.•Studies of children <5 years of age living <5 km of NPPs, presented some evidence of increased risks.•Improved monitoring and exposure assessment are needed of populations surrounding NPPs.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between childhood leukemia and residential proximity to nuclear power plants (NPP).MethodsWe performed a systematic review by searching the MEDLINE database for published studies of childhood leukemia incidence and proximity to NPP. The primary analysis included children <15 years of age living within 25 km of a NPP, and the secondary analysis focused exposure of children <5 years of age living within 5 km of such facilities.ResultsA meta-analysis including eight studies (1,665 cases) of childhood leukemia within 25 km of NPPs produced a pooled estimate of 1.00 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95–1.05). A secondary analysis of a subset of three case-control studies (53 cases) examining the risk in children <5 years of age within 5 km of a NPP produced a meta-estimate of 1.45 (95% CI = 0.74–2.86), and an analysis of the same parameters using four studies (76 cases) from ecological/cohort studies generated a significantly elevated pooled estimate of 1.33 (95% CI = 1.05–1.68).ConclusionMeta-estimates for ecological/cohort and case-control studies did not provide evidence of an increase in leukemia incidence in children <15 years of age living <25 km of a NPP. A subset of studies including children <5 years of age living <5 km from a NPP produced significantly elevated estimates for ecological/cohort studies. Continuing to undertake large-scale studies of populations surrounding nuclear facilities is encouraged to refine potential risks and better understand methodological nuances.
