Abstract
BackgroundHigh doses of ionising radiation are a known cause of childhood cancer and great public and professional interest attaches to possible links between childhood cancer and lower doses, particularly of man-made radiation. This paper describes work done by the Childhood Cancer Research Group (CCRG) on this topicMethodsMost UK investigations have made use of the National Registry of Childhood Tumours and associated controls. Epidemiological investigations have included national incidence and mortality analyses, geographical investigations, record linkage and case-control studies. Dosimetric studies use biokinetic and dosimetric modelling.ResultsThis paper reviews the work of the CCRG on the association between exposure to ionising radiation and childhood cancer, 1975–2014.ConclusionThe work of CCRG has been influential in developing understanding of the causes of 'clusters' of childhood cancer and the risks arising from exposure to ionising radiation both natural and man-made. Some clusters around nuclear installations have certainly been observed, but ionising radiation does not seem to be a plausible cause. The group’s work has also been instrumental in discounting the hypothesis that paternal preconception irradiation was a cause of childhood cancers and has demonstrated an increased leukaemia risk for children exposed to higher levels of natural gamma-ray radiation.
Highlights
This paper is one of three describing the Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers (OSCC) and the work of the Childhood CancerResearch Group (CCRG), which was developed from the OSCC
The 'Gardner hypothesis', that Preconceptional Paternal Irradiation could lead to cancer in the offspring of those exposed, appeared to offer a mechanism that might explain the Sellafield cluster
The parallel hypothesis involving the preconceptional irradiation of mothers has received no support
Summary
This paper is one of three describing the Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers (OSCC) and the work of the Childhood CancerResearch Group (CCRG), which was developed from the OSCC. High doses of ionising radiation are a known cause of childhood cancer, taken here as cancers arising before the 15th birthday[3]. High doses of ionising radiation are a known cause of childhood cancer and great public and professional interest attaches to possible links between childhood cancer and lower doses, of man-made radiation. This paper describes work done by the Childhood Cancer Research Group (CCRG) on this topic METHODS: Most UK investigations have made use of the National Registry of Childhood Tumours and associated controls. RESULTS: This paper reviews the work of the CCRG on the association between exposure to ionising radiation and childhood cancer, 1975–2014. CONCLUSION: The work of CCRG has been influential in developing understanding of the causes of 'clusters' of childhood cancer and the risks arising from exposure to ionising radiation both natural and man-made. The group’s work has been instrumental in discounting the hypothesis that paternal preconception irradiation was a cause of childhood cancers and has demonstrated an increased leukaemia risk for children exposed to higher levels of natural gamma-ray radiation
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