Environnement, Risques & Santé
MENULeukemia incidence among children around Brest Harbour, 1991-2005 Volume 9, issue 1, Janvier-Février 2010
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- Key words: epidemiology, incidence, childhood leukaemia, pediatrics, radiation, ionizing
- DOI : 10.1684/ers.2010.0319
- Page(s) : 53-9
- Published in: 2010
Context and objectives: To respond to population concerns about the health impact of the nuclear submarines based at Ile Longue, a study was conducted of variations in the incidence of childhood leukaemia around Brest harbour. Methods: The study analysed data from the Brittany child tumour registry. It divided Finistère into 3 areas (i) Finistère excluding Brest and its harbour, (ii) Brest harbour, but excluding the city of Brest, (iii) the city of Brest. The 1991-2005 period was studied as a continuous or categorical variable according to the size of the area. Age-standardised analyses were performed with both external and internal (either Brittany or Finistère) references. Results: An excess incidence of leukaemia was observed throughout Finistère, due to an excess in Brest in 2000-2002. The characteristics of the 2000-2005 Brest cases were not consistent with a link to parental occupational exposure in nuclear defence activities. Conclusion: Standard and complementary methodological approaches offered a comprehensive view of the epidemiological situation and provided convergent indications that leukaemia incidence peaked in Brest in 2000-2002. This peak did not seem to be associated with a persistent environmental cause, but follow-up should continue.