asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement regarding the Leukaemia report of the many occurrences of illnesses related to the Sellafield nuclear plant.
Written Answers. - Acute Lymphoid Leukaemia.
147.
I assume that the report to which the Deputy refers is the report of the study which was carried out into the mortality and incidence of childhood leukaemia in this country arising out of concern about possible health consequences from the levels of radiation in the Irish Sea region.
Mortality arising from acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) was studied for the years 1971-82 and incidence for 1974-83. During the total study period no excess of mortality or incidence was apparent either on the east or south coast of the country and distribution of high rates was quite random over the country as a whole.
More detailed examination of mortality rates showed a small excess in coastal strips approximately three miles wide on the east and south coasts for the period 1971-76 but not for the period 1977-82. When incidence rates were examined the east coast strip showed an excess of new cases of ALL for the study period 1974-76 but not for the study period 1977-83; the south coast strip showed no such increase.
These increases were in low single figures and no particular conclusions can be drawn from them. After 1977 the study found no geographic variations in mortality and incidence rates. It could be concluded from the findings of the study, post 1977, that no possible external causative factors were involved and that Sellafield therefore has had no observable impact in relation to acute lymphoid leukaemia in children since 1977. However on the basis of this study while Sellafield could not be linked directly to the increases in childhood leukaemia prior to 1977, it could not be exonerated either prior to that date.