DISTRIBUTION OF CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIAS AND NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS NEAR NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Objective-To examine the relation between the risk of childhood leukae mia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and proximity of residence to nuclear i nstallations in England and Wales. Design-Observed and expected number s of cases were calculated and analysed by standard methods based on r atios of observed to expected counts and by a new statistical test, th e linear risk score test, based on ranks and designed to be sensitive to excess incidence in close proximity to a putative source of risk. S etting-Electoral wards within 25 km of 23 nuclear installations and si x control sites that had been investigated for suitability for generat ing stations but never used. Subjects-Children below age 15 in England and Wales, 1966-87. Main outcome measure-Registration of any leukaemi a or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Results-In none of the 25 km circles arou nd the installations was the incidence ratio significantly greater tha n 1.0. The only significant results for the linear risk score test wer e for Sellafield (P=0.00002) and Burghfield (P=0.031). The circles for Aldermaston and Burghfield overlap; the incidence ratio was 1.10 in e ach. One of the control sites gave a significant linear risk score tes t result (P=0.020). All the tests carried but were one sided with P va lues estimated by simulation. Conclusion-There is no evidence of a gen eral increase of childhood leukaemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma around nuclear installations. Apart from Sellafield, the evidence for distanc e related risk is very weak.