Incidence of childhood leukaemia in the vicinity of nuclear sites in France, 1990–1998

Overall, 670 cases ( O ) of childhood leukaemia were diagnosed within 20 km of the 29 French nuclear installations between 1990 and 1998 compared to an expected number ( E ) of 729.09 cases ( O/E =0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI)=[0.85–0.99]). Each of the four areas defined around the sites showed non significant deficits of cases (0–5 km: O =65, O/E =0.87, CI=[0.67–1.10]; 5–10 km: O =165, O/E =0.95, CI=[0.81–1.10]; 10–15 km: O =220, O/E =0.88, CI=[0.77–1.00]; 15–20 km: O =220, O/E =0.96, CI=[0.84–1.10]). There was no evidence of a trend in standardised incidence ratio with distance from the sites for all children or for any of the three age groups studied. Similar results were obtained when the start-up year of the electricity-generating nuclear sites and their electric nuclear power were taken into account. No evidence was found of a generally increased risk of childhood leukaemia around the 29 French nuclear sites under study during 1990–1998.