Asse Increased number of leukemia disorders

The number of leukemia diseases is disproportionately high in the vicinity of the nuclear waste disposal facility Asse. According to the NDR, this results from the as yet unpublished statistics of the Lower Saxony Cancer Registry.

26.11.2010

The figures show the experts of the medical organization IPPNW („International Doctors for the Prevention of Nuclear War / Physicians in Social Responsibility e.V..“) another „Evidence for the causal relationship between ionizing radiation and an increased risk of cancer and leukemia“. More than 20 years ago, the increased number of leukemia cases (blood cancer) in children was close to the nuclear plant´s crumb in the discussion. Already in 2007, scientists of the German Cancer Registry in Mainz have shown that children up to the age of four are subject to an even higher leukemia risk the closer they live to a nuclear power plant. Thus, in the period from 1980 to 2003 within a radius of five kilometers around the German reactors, a total of 37 children had leukemia, whereby „on statistical average (...) 17 cases were to be expected“ said the experts of the German Cancer Registry about three years ago. Accordingly, were „about 20 new cases (...) due solely to living in this area.“ In 2009, the renowned epidemiologist Eberhard Greiser came to the conclusion that within a radius of 20 to 50 kilometers around nuclear reactors, the risk of leukemia in children under the age of five increased by 19 percent and in children under the age of 15 by 13 percent. Now, the statistics of the Lower Saxony Cancer Registry, a clearly increased leukemia rate in the vicinity of the nuclear waste storage Asse.

Increased leukemia rate demonstrated
According to NDR showed up „the parliamentary factions (...) affected by the results of the study“ and SPD parliamentary group leader Stefan Schostock have given the numbers of even one „shock“ spoken. According to the atomic-critical physicians of the IPPNW confirms with the current statistics of the cancer registry their always voiced fears that of the nuclear power plant´and nuclear waste repositories pose a significantly increased risk of cancer. Statistically speaking, among the under 10,000 residents in the community association Asse, the illness of 5 male inhabitants and 3 women would have met the national average, as Dorothea von Nicolai of the health department in Wolfenbüttel told „sueddeutsche.de“ explained. In fact, according to the statistics, 12 cases of leukemia have been recorded in men, which is more than twice the national average. The women were diagnosed with six cases of leukemia, but the number of cases of thyroid cancer has tripled over the past five years, according to NDR from the statistics of the Lower Saxony Cancer Registry. Overall, however, the number of all cancers in the integrated municipality of Asse is in the normal range, said Dorothea von Nicolai, director of the health department in the district Wolfenbüttel. Thus, the rate of cancer is almost unchanged and with almost 400 cases observed, the number of cancer cases corresponded to the statistical expectations.

Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) are not related
While the physicians' organization IPPNW sees evidence of the health risk in the current figures, which is based in particular on the nuclear waste in Asse II, the operator of the Asse mine, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), reacted to the announcement of the study presented in 2007 increased leukemia cases near nuclear power plant´s. A causal relationship between the increased leukemia and the actual radioactive emissions from the reactors could „currently not proven“, so the BfS. Even if, according to the president of the BfS, Wolfram König, there are indications of connections, so far there is no evidence. For the accumulation of the leukemia illnesses determined in the context of the evaluation of the so-called epidemiological cancer register of the country particularly with men in the circle of the atomic waste storage Asse with Wolfenbüttel, also other causes than a possible radiation load are conceivable, emphasized not only the BfS but also representatives of the Velvet municipality of Asse.

The BfS added that there was „No indications of emissions from the current operation of the aces, which allow a connection with diseases in the population of the environment today or in the future“. Only recently had the results of soil and arable crops revealed, „that there is no dangerous situation in the vicinity of the aces“. In addition, last year "no increased radioactive contamination of the soil, air, water and agricultural products and of needles and foliage has been detected“, explained the BfS.

Exact background of the high leukemia rate unexplained
Why the number of leukemia cases near the nuclear waste disposal facility or near nuclear power plants?´s is particularly high, but the BfS could not explain. However, given the current numbers, further investigations are now being initiated to more accurately identify the causes of the increased leukemia cases. The IPPNW, on the other hand, is convinced that there is a link between the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste stored in approximately 126,000 barrels between 1967 and 1978 and the accumulation of leukemia. For its part, the BfS has always emphasized that the consequences of incorrect dumping of nuclear waste only affect the mine itself, i. Although radioactively contaminated brine leaks deep into the salt dome, it can not reach the surface. Although the BfS has already rated Asse salt dome as unsuitable for the long-term storage of nuclear waste and plans to clear the warehouse due to water ingress and collapse, the health hazard should not be underestimated, the IPPNW warns. Thus, the physicians' organization demands that the federal government finally adapts the calculation basis for the Radiation Protection Ordinance, since every nuclear power plant constantly emits radiation in the form of radioactive substances (isotopes), which pose a health risk to the population.

Although the Ministry of Social Affairs in Hannover now wants to initiate an investigation of the increased leukemia cases in the integrated municipality of Asse by a corresponding expert group, it is to be feared that, as in the investigations on the leukemia cases in the vicinity of nuclear power plants´s, no plausible justification can be determined. For this has always been the case when the increased occurrence of leukemia, especially in children, near nuclear power´s lived, was to investigate.

Data analysis insufficient: Cancer is also favored by other factors
The news magazine „The mirror“ was more critical of the published data, especially in terms of reporting. For the data of the Epidemiological Cancer Registry of Lower Saxony (EKN) are completely anonymous and contained only the sex of cancer patients, without specifying the exact place of residence, which would be important for the assessment of a radiation-related cancer risk. Other factors that play a crucial role in the individual risk of cancer, such as the occupation and the age of those affected, were not included, so the criticism of the news magazine. Nikolaus Becker, who heads the epidemiological cancer registry of Baden-Württemberg at the German Cancer Research Center, also criticized the NDR's reporting: „You have to check something like that before going public with such numbers“. In his opinion, the data do not permit any conclusion as to whether or not there is a connection with possible radiation exposure.

The magazine„Mirror online“ added that cancer can be triggered not only by radiation, but also chemically or by viruses. If a serious statement is to be made as to whether a single trigger such as the radiation from the aces is responsible for an increased leukemia risk, on the one hand large numbers of cases are necessary and on the other hand all other possible causes would have to be excluded. Both the data of the EKN would not give forth, so the statement of the news magazine. (Fp)

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Nuclear power plants do not promote malformations?

Picture credits: Gerd Altmann