Abstract
This cohort was established to evaluate whether 38-year radiation exposure (since the start of nuclear reactor operations) is related to cancer risk in residents near three nuclear power plants (NPPs). This cohort study enrolled all residents who lived within 8 km of any of the three NPPs in Taiwan from 1978 to 2016 (n = 214,502; person-years = 4,660,189). The control population (n = 257,475; person-years = 6,282,390) from three towns comprised all residents having lived more than 15 km from all three NPPs. Radiation exposure will be assessed via computer programs GASPAR-II and LADTAP-II by following methodologies provided in the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulatory guides. We calculated the cumulative individual tissue organ equivalent dose and cumulative effective dose for each resident. This study presents the number of new cancer cases and prevalence in the residence-nearest NPP group and control group in the 38-year research observation period. TNPECS provides a valuable platform for research and opens unique possibilities for testing whether radiation exposure since the start of operations of nuclear reactors will affect health across the life course. The release of radioactive nuclear species caused by the operation of NPPs caused residents to have an effective dose between 10-7 and 10-3 mSv/year. The mean cumulative medical radiation exposure dose between the residence-nearest NPP group and the control group was not different (7.69; standard deviation, 18.39 mSv and 7.61; standard deviation, 19.17 mSv; P = 0.114).
Highlights
Epidemiologic studies of cancer risks in residents near nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been carried out in at least eleven countries (South Korea, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the n United States) 1-16
Radiation exposure will be assessed by computer programs GASPAR-II and d LADTAP-II by following methodologies provided in the USNRC regulatory guides. te We calculated the cumulative individual tissue organ equivalent dose and cumulative p effective dose for each resident
These studies have come to different conclusions, with e some suggesting a positive association between living in proximity to a nuclear V facility and cancer risks. Most of these studies did not present information d about the radiation dose level in residents, and used only a surrogate such as residence te distance from NPPs. They assumed that the farther one resides from a NPP, the lower p the dose one might receive; this might not always hold true. e Several epidemiologic studies have shown higher than expected incidence rates of acute leukemia in Achildren living near NPPs 9,16-20, but there have been no reports of clustering of childhood leukemia near NPPs after 2008 in other studies 19
Summary
Epidemiologic studies of cancer risks in residents near nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been carried out in at least eleven countries (South Korea, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the n United States) 1-16. The majority of these studies investigated rates of cancer deaths or io cancer incidence in residents living in various-distance geographic units, including rs counties and municipalities. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 exposure (since the start of nuclear reactor operations) is related to cancer risk in residents near three near nuclear power plants (NPPs)
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