Childhood leukaemia in Wessex

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Abstract
Following claims by an anti-nuclear group that there is an excess of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children in Dorset the incidence and geographical distribution of the disease was studied in Dorset and in parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire. In large urban centres there is a gradient of incidence from lowest in urban centres to highest in surrounding commuter communities and in the smaller towns the distribution tends to be peripheral: whether this reflects the previously reported social class gradient or whether it is the other way round is uncertain. That the pattern appears to be widespread makes it unlikely that the explanation lies with the presence of the Atomic Energy Establishment at Winfrith. Three cases of acute lymphobastic leukaemia have occurred in the vicinity of Winfrith in the past 30 years: the expected number was 2–4, the difference being statistically insignificant. No abnormal levels of radiation were found in association with the occurrence of leukaemia, nor was there any association between leukaemia and water supplies. The temporal distribution of incidence in Dorset shows a peak of incidence in 1980/81 with a subsequent decline, and data for Wiltshire and Hampshire suggest a similar pattern there, with a peak of incidence in 1979.

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