Leukemia, lymphomas, and myeloma mortality in the vicinity of nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel facilities in Spain

Mortality due to hematological tumors in towns near Spain's seven nuclear p ower plants and five nuclear fuel facilities during the period 1975-1993 wa s ascertained, The study was based on 610 leukemia-, 198 lymphoma-, and 122 myeloma-induced deaths in 489 towns situated within a 30-km radius of such installations. As control areas, we used 477 towns lying within a 50- to 1 00-km radius of each installation, matched by population size and a series of sociodemographic characteristics (income level, proportion of active pop ulation engaged in farming, proportion of unemployed, percentage of illiter acy, and province). Relative risk (RR) for each area and the trends in risk with increasing proximity to an installation were analyzed using log-linea r models. None of the nuclear power plants registered an excess risk of leu kemia-induced mortality in any of the surrounding areas. Excess risk of leu kemia mortality was, however, observed in the vicinity of the uranium-proce ssing facilities in Andujar [RR, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.64] and Ciudad Rodrigo (RR, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-3.08). Excess r isk of multiple-myeloma mortality was found in the area surrounding the Zor ita nuclear power plant. Statistical testing revealed that, with the single exception of multiple myeloma, none of the tumors studied showed evidence of a rise in risk with proximity to an installation. No study area yielded evidence of a raised risk of leukemia mortality among persons under the age of 25 years. More specific studies are called for in areas near installati ons that have been fully operational for longer periods. In this connection , stress should be laid on the importance of using dosimetric information i n all future studies.