Journal of Korean Medical Science

Korean Acad Medical Sciences (대한의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Cancer Risk in Adult Residents near Nuclear Power Plants in Korea - A Cohort Study of 1992-2010

  • Published : 2012.09.10
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study evaluated cancer risk for adult residents near Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in Korea through a valid prospective cohort study during 1992-2010. The study cohort was composed of 11,367 adults living within a five km radius from the NPPs for the exposed and 24,809 adults for the non-exposed or reference cohort set at two different levels of proximity; 5-30 km radius and more than 30 km radius away from NPPs. In 303,542.5 person-years of follow-up, a total of 2,298 cancer cases of all sites, or 1,377 radio-inducible cancers diagnosed during 1992-2008 were ascertained. Multiple adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. There were no epidemiological evidence for increased risk of cancer due to radiation from NPPs. Radiological study results or surveillance data of radiation doses around NPPs could be well documented for risk estimation of radio-inducible cancers, instead of epidemiological study results of the long-time required. Continuous surveillance of quantitative measures of dose levels around NPPs and radiation exposures to the residents is warranted.

Keywords

References

  1. Black D; Independent Advisory Group. Investigation of the possible increased incidence of cancer in West Cumbria. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), 1983.
  2. Darby SC, Doll R. Fallout, radiation doses near Dounreay, and childhood leukemia. BMJ 1987; 294: 603-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.294.6572.603
  3. Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). First report. The implications of the new data on the release from Sellafield in the 1950s for the conclusion of the Report on the Investigation of the Possible Increased Incidence of Cancer in west Cumbria. London: HMSO, 1986.
  4. Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). Second report. Investigation of the possible increased incidence of leukemia in young people near the Doureay Nuclear Establishment, Caithness, Scotland. London: HMSO, 1988.
  5. Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). Fourth report. The incidence of cancer and leukemias in young people in the vicinity of the Sellafield site, West Cumbria: further studies and an update of the situation since the publication of the report of the Black Advisory Group in 1984. London: Department of Health, 1996.
  6. Heasman MA, Kemp JW, Urquhart JD, Black R. Childhood leukemia in Northern Scotland. Lancet 1986; 1: 266.
  7. Gardner MJ. Review of reported Increases of childhood cancer rates in the vicinity of nuclear installations in the UK. J R Stat Soc Ser A Stat Soc 1989; 152: 307-25. https://doi.org/10.2307/2983129
  8. Gardner MJ, Hall AJ, Downes S, Terrel JD. Results of case-control study of leukemia and lymphoma among young people near Sellafield nuclear plant in West Cumbria. BMJ 1990; 300: 423-9. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.300.6722.423
  9. Cook-Mozaffari OJ, Ashwood FL, Vincent T, Forman D, Alderson M. Cancer incidence and mortality in the vicinity of nuclear installations in England and Wales 1959-1980. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS report). London: HMSO, 1987.
  10. Forman D, Cook-Mozaffari PJ, Darby S, Davey G, Stratton I, Doll R, Pike M. Cancer near nuclear installations (commentary to the OPCS report). Nature 1987; 329: 499-505. https://doi.org/10.1038/329499a0
  11. Cook-Mozaffari PJ, Darby SC, Doll R, Forman D, Hermon C, Pike MC, Vincent T. Geographical variation in mortality from leukemia and other cancers in England and Wales in relation to proximity to nucear installations, 1969-1978. Br J Cancer 1989; 59: 476-85. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1989.99
  12. Clapp RW, Cobb S, Chan, Walker B Jr. Leukaemia near Massachusetts nuclear power plant. Lancet 1987; 2: 1324-5.
  13. Bithell JF, Dutton SJ, Draper GJ, Neary NM. Distribution of childhood leukaemias and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas near nuclear installations in England and Wales. BMJ 1994; 309: 501-5. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.309.6953.501
  14. Black RJ, Sharp L, Harkness EF, McKinney PA. Leukaemia and non- Hodgkin's lymphoma: incidence in children and young adults resident in the Dounreay area of Caithness, Scotland in 1968-91. J Epidemiol Community Health 1994; 48: 232-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.48.3.232
  15. Pobel D, Viel JF. Case-control study of leukemia among young people near La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant: the environmental hypothesis revisited. BMJ 1997; 314: 101-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.314.7074.101
  16. Sharp L, McKinney PA, Black RJ. Incidence of childhood brain and other non-haematopoietic neoplasms near nuclear sites in Scotland, 1975-94. Occup Environ Med 1999; 56: 308-14. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.56.5.308
  17. Gulis G, Fitz O. Cancer incidence around the Nuclear Poweer Plant Jaslovske Bohunice. Cent Eur J Public Health 1998; 6: 183-7.
  18. Draper GJ, Stiller CA, Cartwright RA, Craft AW, Vincent TJ. Cancer in Cumbria and in the vicinity of the Sellafield nuclear installation, 1963-90. BMJ 1993; 306: 89-94. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.306.6870.89
  19. Silva-Mato A, Viana D, Fernandez-SanMartin MI, Cobos J, Viano M. Cancer risk around the nuclear power plants of Trillo and Zorita (Spain). Occup Environ Med 2003; 60: 521-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.60.7.521
  20. Mangano JJ, Sherman J, Chang C, Dave A, Feinberg E, Frimmer M. Elevated childhood cancer incidence proximate to U.S. nuclear power plants. Arch Environ Health 2003; 58: 74-82. https://doi.org/10.3200/AEOH.58.2.74-82
  21. Kaatsch P, Spix C, Schulze-Rath R, Schmiedel S, Blettner M. Leukemia in young children living in the vicinity of German nuclear power plants. Int J Cancer 2008; 122: 721-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.23330
  22. Spix C, Schmiedel S, Kaatsch P, Schulze-Rath R, Blettner M. Case-control study on childhood cancer in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in Germany 1980-2003. Eur J Cancer 2008; 44: 275-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2007.10.024
  23. Darby SC, Doll R. Fallout, radiation doses near Dounreay, and childhood leukemia. BMJ 1987; 294: 603-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.294.6572.603
  24. Kinlen L. Evidence for an infectious cause of childhood leukaemia: comparison of a Scottish new town with nuclear reprocessing sites in Britain. Lancet 1988; 2: 1323-7.
  25. Enstrom JE. Cancer mortality patterns around the San Onofre nuclear power plant 1960-1978. Am J Public Health 1983; 73: 83-92. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.73.1.83
  26. Poole C, Rothman KJ, Dreyer NA. Leukaemia near Pilgrim nuclear power plant, Massachusetts. Lancet 1988; 2: 1308.
  27. Crump KS, Ng TH, Cuddihy RG. Cancer incidence pattern in Denver metropolitan area in relation to the Rocky Flats plant. Am J Epidemiol 1987; 126: 127-35. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114644
  28. Jablon S, Hrubec Z, Boice JD Jr, Stone BJ. Cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities. Bethesda, Md: Public Health Service, Dept of Health and Human Services. NIH Publication 1990; 90-874.
  29. Clarke EA, McLaughin J, Anderson TW. Childhood leukemia around Canadian nuclear facilities - Phase I, Final Report. Ottawa, Ontario: Atomic Energy Control Board, 1989.
  30. Viel JF, Richardson ST. Childhood leukemia around La Hague nuclear facilities. Health Physics 1989; 56: 875-84. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198906000-00005
  31. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., LTD. Available at http://www.khnp. co.kr [accessed on 7 February 2011].
  32. Dong-A Ilbo. July 31, August 2, 1989.
  33. Repubic of Korea, Parliament Office. Stenographic records of the 1989 Parliamentary (Committee on Science and Economy) inspection of the Ministry of Science and Technology. September 21 and October 4, 1989.
  34. Ahn YO, Lee MC, Yoo KY, Chung JK, Park BJ, Li ZM, Kim JQ, Lee CE, Lee DH, Choi JS, et al. Epidemiological investigation on cancer risk among radiation workers in nuclear power plants and residents nearby nuclear power plants in Korea (the final report). Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST No. 2010-0000986); 2011.
  35. Jeong MS, Jin YW, Yang KH, Ahn YO, Cha CY. Radiation exposure and cancer incidence in a cohort of nuclear power industry workers in the Republic of Korea, 1992-2005. Radiat Environ Biophys 2010; 49: 47-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-009-0247-7
  36. Cardis E, Vrijheid M, Blettner M, Gilbert E, Hakama M, Hill C, Howe G, Kaldor J, Muirhead CR, Ahn YO, et al. Risk of cancer after low doses of ionizing radiation: retrospective cohort study in 15 countries. BMJ 2005; 331: 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38499.599861.E0
  37. Bae JM, Yang YJ, Li CM, Ahn YO. Low cholesterol is associated with mortality from cardiovascular diseases: a dynamic cohort study in Korean adults. J Korean Med Sci 2011; 27: 58-63. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.1.58
  38. Korean Institute of Nuclear Safety. Reports of Evaluation and Investigation for the radiation exposure in nuclear facilities and surrounding areas. 1990, 1992-1996.
  39. Bae SH, Park BY, Li CM, Ahn YO. Reliability of covariates in baseline survey of a cohort study: epidemiological investigation on cancer risk among residents who reside near the nuclear power plants in Korea. J Prev Med Public Health 2010; 43: 159-65. https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.2.159
  40. Stewart BW, Kleihues P, editors. World Cancer Report. Lyon: IARC Press, 2003, p 51-3.
  41. Song MK, Cho IS, Li CM, Ahn YO. Completeness of cancer case ascertainment in Korea radiation effect and epidemiology cohort study. J Korean Med Sci 2012; 27: 489-94. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.5.489
  42. Cho IS, Song MK, Choi YH, Li CM, Ahn YO. Power estimation and follow- up period evaluation in Korea radiation effect and epidemiology cohort study. J Prev Med Public Health 2010; 43: 543-8. https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.6.543
  43. Curado MP, Edwards B, Shin HR, Storm H, Ferlay J, Heanue M, Boyle P. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents IX. IARC Scientific Publications 2008; 160: 111-2.
  44. Jung KW, Won YJ, Park SH, Kong HJ, Sung JH, Shin HR, Park EC, Lee JS. Cancer statistics in Korea: incidence, mortality and survival in 2005. J Korean Med Sci 2009; 24: 995-1003. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2009.24.6.995
  45. Jung KW, Park SH, Kong HJ, Won YJ, Boo YK, Shin HR, Park EC, Lee JS. Cancer statistics in Korea: incidence, mortality and survival in 2006-2007. J Korean Med Sci 2010; 25: 1113-21. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.8.1113
  46. Fairlie I. Childhood cancer near nuclear power stations. Environ Health 2009; 8: 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-8-43
  47. Kelsey JL, Thompson WD, Evans AS. Methods in observational epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986, p 8-9.

Cited by

  1. Re: Cancer Risk in Adult Residents Near Nuclear Power Plants in Korea: A Cohort Study of 1992-2010 vol.29, pp.10, 2014, https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.10.1436
  2. Rebuttal to Authors' Reply, Re: Cancer Risk in Adult Residents Near Nuclear Power Plants in Korea: A Cohort Study of 1992-2010 vol.30, pp.1, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.1.115
  3. Thyroid Cancer: We Need a Carcinogen-specific Genome Study vol.30, pp.12, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.12.1920
  4. Cancer Risk among Population near Nuclear Power Plants in Korea vol.30, pp.5, 2015, https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.5.666
  5. Development and application of patient decision aids vol.37, pp.None, 2012, https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2015018
  6. Can screening effects explain increased risk of thyroid cancer among population living near nuclear power plants in Korea? vol.30, pp.None, 2015, https://doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2015013
  7. Examination History and Abnormal Thyroid and Breast Lesions According to Residential Distance from Nuclear Power Plants vol.41, pp.4, 2016, https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2016.41.4.402
  8. Cancer incidence in adults living in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in France, based on data from the French Network of Cancer Registries vol.142, pp.5, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.31116
  9. Reanalysis of Epidemiological Investigation of Cancer Risk among People Residing near Nuclear Power Plants in South Korea vol.15, pp.3, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030481
  10. Increased risk of thyroid cancer in female residents nearby nuclear power plants in Korea: was it due to detection bias? vol.30, pp.1, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0233-0