Background gamma radiation and childhood cancer in Germany: an ecological study.
The relationship of low-dose background gamma radiation and childhood leukaemia was investigated in a number of studies. Results from these studies are inconclusive. Therefore, in the present study 25 years of German childhood cancer data were analyzed using interpolated background annual gamma dose rate per community in an ecological study. The main question was leukaemia; as exploratory questions we investigate central nervous system (CNS) tumours, thyroid carcinomas and diagnoses less likely to be related to radiation. A Poisson regression model was applied and a fractional polynomial model building procedure. As the main sensitivity analysis a community deprivation index was included as a potential confounder. It was found that outdoor background gamma annual dose rates in Germany range roughly from 0.5-1.5 mSv/a with an average of 0.817 mSv/a. No association of annual ambient gamma dose rates with leukaemia incidence was found. Amongst the exploratory analyses, a strong association was found with CNS tumour incidence [rate ratio for 1.5 vs 0.5 mSv/a: 1.35; 95% confidence interval (1.17, 1.57)]. The community level deprivation index was not a confounder. It is concluded that the present study did not confirm an association of annual outdoor ambient gamma dose rate and childhood leukaemia, corresponding to some studies and contrasting others. An association with CNS incidence was found in the exploratory analyses. As this is an ecological study no causal interpretation is possible.
German Childhood Cancer Registry at the Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55101, Mainz, Germany. clauspix@uni-mainz.de.
Claudia
0000-0002-2123-9315
C
Spix
Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
Bernd
B
Grosche
Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
Martin
M
Bleher
German Childhood Cancer Registry at the Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55101, Mainz, Germany.
Peter
P
Kaatsch
Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55101, Mainz, Germany.
Peter
P
Scholz-Kreisel
Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55101, Mainz, Germany.
Maria
M
Blettner
D000293:Adolescent; D001417:Background Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
Background radiation; Central nervous system tumours (CNS); Child; Ecological study; Gamma radiation; Leukaemia; Neoplasm