Cluster of Childhood Leukemia Linked to Belgian Mol-Dessel Nuclear Facility

September 13th, 2016

Awake Goy

nsnbc . Children aged 0 – 14 years, living within a 15 kilometer radius of the Mol-Dessel nuclear facility in Belgium have between two and three times more chance of contracting leukemia than children living in other parts of the country suggests a scientific study.

Courtesy Remy Sharp (archives)

The Mol-Dessel nuclear facility stored, produced and reprocessed nuclear material since the first nuclear reactors went online in Belgium in the 1970s. Alarmed by a German study that showed that children living in the vicinity of nuclear sites are at greater risk of developing cancer, researchers decided to conduct a similar study, focusing on the area around Mol-Dessel.

The study, which was published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, established a statistically significant correlation between children’s’ proximity to the Mol-Dessel nuclear site and leukemia. The researchers note that: (access full study here)

Around the site of Mol-Dessel two- to three-fold increased leukemia incidence rates were found in children aged 0-14 years living in the 0-5, 0-10 and the 0-15 km proximity areas. .. For this site, there was evidence for a gradient in leukemia incidence with increased proximity, prevailing winds and simulated radioactive discharges, suggesting a potential link with the site that needs further investigation. An increased incidence of acute leukemia in children aged 0-14 years was observed around one nuclear site that hosted reprocessing activities in the past and where nuclear research activities and radioactive waste treatment are ongoing.

The study is also consistent with numerous other studies that clearly shows that children are at significantly greater risk of developing radiation and radioactive isotope related cancers than adults.

Lodewijk Van Bladel, who is one of the twelve co-authors of the study and an expert of the Belgian State’s “nuclear watchdog” FANC, was keen to stress that “only a handful of children have been effected” and that further studies are required. Ignoring that the study is consistent with a cohort of other studies, the State’s own nuclear expert would point at the small sample size as possible cause, stating:

“The number of people living in Dessel, Mol and the surrounding areas is so small that the number of cases of leukaemia is also small. So you quickly arrive at a doubling or even a tripling. Follow-up research with a larger group is needed”.

Van Bladel also used a diversion strategy that is being used by nuclear industry lobbyists, globally; That is to omit the substantial body of peer-reviewed litterature that documents a significant correlation between proximity to nuclear power plants and facilities and especially childhood leukemia while he stresses that there “has not been found a causal link”.

Belgium’s Federal Health Ministry also notes that it is aware of the research and finds it statistically significant enough to warrant further research. A follow-up study is in progress, notes the Ministry.

CH/L – nsnbc 12.09.2016

Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2016/09/12/cluster-of-childhood-leukemia-linked-to-belgian-mol-dessel-nuclear-facility/