A government-sponsored study of childhood cancer in
the proximity of German nuclear power plants
(German acronym KiKK) found that children < 5 years
living < 5 km from plant exhaust stacks had twice the
risk for contracting leukemia as those residing > 5 km.
The researchers concluded that since “this result was
not to be expected under current radiation-epidemiological
knowledge” and confounders could not be
identified, the observed association of leukemia incidence
with residential proximity to nuclear plants
“remains unexplained.” This unjustified conclusion
illustrates the dissonance between evidence and
assumptions. There exist serious flaws and gaps in the
knowledge on which accepted models for population
exposure and radiation risk are based. Studies with
results contradictory to those of KiKK lack statistical
power to invalidate its findings. The KiKK study’s ramifications
add to the urgency for a public policy debate
regarding the health impact of nuclear power generation.