Child cancer risk higher near nuclear plants: study

Child cancer risk higher near nuclear plants: study
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German study has found that youngchildren living near nuclear power plants have a significantlyhigher risk of developing leukemia and other forms of cancer, aGerman newspaper reported on Saturday.
"Our study confirmed that in Germany a connection has beenobserved between the distance of a domicile to the nearestnuclear power plant .... and the risk of developing cancer,such as leukemia, before the fifth birthday," SuddeutscheZeitung newspaper quoted the report as saying.
The newspaper said the study was done by the University ofMainz for Germany's Federal Office for Radiation Protection(BFS). A copy of the report was not immediately available.
The researchers found that 37 children within a 5-kilometer(3-mile) radius of nuclear power plants had developed leukemiabetween 1980 and 2003, while the statistical average duringthis time period was 17, the paper said.
The newspaper cited an unnamed radiation protection expertfamiliar with the study who said its conclusions understatedthe problem. He said the data showed there was an increasedcancer risk for children living within 50 kilometers of areactor.
German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in astatement that he would examine the study. He said the BFSshould also evaluate its findings.
Germany plans to prematurely shut down all of its nuclearpower plants by the early 2020s.
(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau)