D. Pobel et Jf. Viel, CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF LEUKEMIA AMONG YOUNG-PEOPLE NEAR LA HAGUE NUCLEAR REPROCESSING PLANT - THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYPOTHESIS REVISITED, BMJ. British medical journal, 314(7074), 1997, pp. 101-106
Objective: To investigate the association between childhood leukaemia
and established risk factors or other factors related to La Hague nucl
ear waste reprocessing plant. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Are
a within a 35 km radius of La Hague, Normandy, France. Subjects: Twent
y seven cases of leukaemia diagnosed during the period 1978-93 in peop
le aged under 25 years and 192 controls matched for sex, age, place of
birth, and residence at time of diagnosis. Main outcome measures: Ant
enatal and postnatal exposure to x rays and viral infections, occupati
onal exposure of parents (particularly ionising radiation), living con
ditions, lifestyle of parents and children. Results: Increased trends
were found for use of local beaches by mothers and children (P less th
an or equal to 0.01); relative risks 2.87 (95% confidence intervals 1.
05 to 8.72) and 4.49 (1.52 to 15.23) when categories were aggregated i
n two levels (more or less than once a month). Consumption of local fi
sh and shellfish also showed an increased trend (P 0.01); relative ris
k 2.66 (0.91 to 9.51) when categories were grouped in two levels (more
or less than once a week). A relative risk of 1.18 a year (1.03 to 1.
42) was observed for length of residence in a granite-built house or i
n a granitic area. No association was shown with occupational radiatio
n exposure in parents. Conclusions: There is some convincing evidence
in childhood leukaemia of a causal role for environmental radiation ex
posure from recreational activities on beaches. New methods for identi
fying the environmental pathways, focusing on marine ecosystems, are w
arranted.