A cluster of childhood leukaemias near two neighbouring nuclear installations in Northern Germany: prevalence of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes

Purpose: Between 1990 and 1991 a leukaemia cluster was observed in children living close to the combined site of a nuclear power plant and a nuclear r esearch facility in Elbmarsch, a region in Lower Saxony (Germany). We aim t o investigate the prevalence of presumably radiation-induced chromosomal ab errations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of children in Elbmarsch and chil dren of a control region in order to find out whether there was an uncontro lled release of radioactive material which resulted in a substantial exposu re. Materials and methods: The frequency of dicentric and ring chromosomes in l ymphocytes of the peripheral blood in 42 children in Elbmarsch and 30 child ren in Plon was investigated. Children in both groups had been permanent re sidents of the study area. Results: The mean frequency of dicentric and ring chromosomes in Elbmarsch was 14/32580 cells (= 0.430 x 10(-3); 95% CI 0.24-0.70 x 10(-3) cells), and in Plon it was 17/24065 cells (= 0.706 x 10(-3); 95% CI 0.42-1.10 x 10(-3) cells). Conclusions : No difference in the frequency of dicentric and ring chromoso mes was observed between children in Elbmarsch living close to a combined s ite of a nuclear power plant and a nuclear research facility and children l iving in the control area Plon. The power of the study to detect a threefol d or higher increase in the aberration frequency was at least 0.86.