Study links radiation to heart disease
Study links radiation to heart disease
A study of nearly 65,000 UK nuclear industry workers over more than 60 years has found a possible link between high radiation exposure and heart disease. The research team, writing in the International Journal of Epidemiology, stressed that its analysis could not rule out other factors that could explain the link, such as work-related stress or irregular shift patterns. The team studied 64,818 workers at the Sellafield, Springfields, Chapelcross and Capenhurst nuclear sites. Some of the workers began work in the industry as far back as 1946, and 42,426 were exposed to radiation as part of their job. When the researchers compared workers occupationally exposed to radiation with those who were not, they did not find any difference in the number of cases of heart disease and stroke. However, when they split the radiation-exposed workers into groups with different levels of exposure - based on readings from radiation-monitoring badges worn by all staff - they did see a disparity. Those workers who were exposed to the highest levels had a slightly lower life expectancy due to an increased probability of heart disease and strokes. Nuclear industry union Prospect said the report raised more questions than it answered, and called for further research. National secretary Mike Graham said: 'While the health and safety of our members working in the nuclear industry is of paramount importance, we must guard against sensationalist reaction to this report, particularly as the authors themselves acknowledge the study has not established a cause and effect relationship between occupational exposure and heart disease.' But on the basis of the findings, Mr Graham said the union will now be pushing for further studies, a review into whether non-cancer circulatory diseases should be added to the coverage of the industry's Radiation Linked Compensation Scheme for nuclear workers and action to ensure all employers, including contractors, provide full information to nuclear workers across the industry.
- Dave McGeoghegan, Keith Binks, Michael Gillies, Steve Jones, and Steve Whaley. The non-cancer mortality experience of male workers at British Nuclear Fuels plc, 1946-2005, International Journal of Epidemiology Advance Access, published online on 4 March 2008 [full paper and abstract]. Prospect news release. The Guardian.
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