CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA AND NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA NEAR LARGE RURAL CONSTRUCTION SITES, WITH A COMPARISON WITH SELLAFIELD NUCLEAR SITE

Objective-To determine whether population mixing produced by large, no n-nuclear construction projects in rural areas is associated with an i ncrease in childhood leukaemia and non-Hoodgkin's lymhoma. Design-A st udy of the incidence of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among chi ldren living near large construction projects in Britain since 1945, s ituated more than 20 km from a population centre, involving a workforc e 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 hyd roelectric schemes. Subjects-Children aged under 15. Results-A 37% exc ess of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at 0-14 years of age was r ecorded during construction and the following calendar year. The exces ses were greater at times when construction workers and operating staf f overlapped (72%), particularly in areas of relatively high social cl ass. For several sites the excesses were similar to or greater than th at near the nuclear site of Sellafield (67%), which is distinctive in its large workforce with many construction workers. Seascale, near Sel lafield, with a ninefold increase had an unusually high proportion of residents in social class I. The only study parish of comparable socia l class also showed a significant excess, with a confidence interval t hat included the Seascale excess. Conclusion-The findings support the infection hypothesis and reinforce the view that the excess of childho od leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma near Sellafield has a similar explanation.