Winfrid Eisenberg, M.D. on higher cancer rates among children near nuclear power plants
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Abandoned kindergarten in Pripyat, Ukraine, one of many towns contaminated forever by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (istockphoto.com)
Winfrid Eisenberg, M.D. is a pediatrician and member of the German branch of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). IPPNW, the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize winner, was partly formed by Physicians for Social Responsibility, a U.S. group Dr. Caldicott led in the 1980’s. Dr. Eisenberg discusses with Dr. Caldicott the results of a 2003 German study, “Leukemia in young children living in the vicinity of German nuclear power plants” whose acronym is “KiKK.” The KiKK study looked at the increase in childhood cancer amongst people living in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. You can read about the study in English here and here.
Dr. Eisenberg recounts how he became involved in IPPNW in the early 1980’s when Europeans were very concerned about nuclear war between the U.S. and the then-Soviet Union. He says that today, European concern about nuclear war continues as the U.S. makes bunker-buster bombs, and retains 20 U.S. nuclear missiles in Germany. Dr. Caldicott says that IPPNW should do much more to re-ignite interest in nuclear disarmament.
Dr. Eisenberg says that the German branch of IPPNW has been raising awareness of the dangers of nuclear energy since their beginning in 1982, even before the Chernobyl accident raised the level of radioactivity throughout Europe. He describes where he was during the Chernobyl accident and its immediate aftermath. Dr. Caldicott emphasizes that 40% of Europe is still highly contaminated, as indicated by this map, and eating the food can be risky. Dr. Caldicott asks whether Dr. Eisenberg has seen more childhood cancer and leukemia cases after Chernobyl, and he says there is definitely an increase in leukemia and certain tumors. He then explains in depth why children are more sensitive to radiation. Read a short letter to the editor by Dr. Eisenberg about children’s sensitivity to radiation.
Winfrid Eisenberg, M.D. (far left) at a 2009-2010 Vlotho, Germany exhibition devoted to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, with students and other visitors holding paper cranes, symbols of peace. Photo: Michaela Berbalk
The program next focuses on the origins, methodology and findings of the KiKK study. The results of the study are quite compelling, and Dr. Eisenberg lays out the statistics. Dr. Caldicott praises the study, and says that it is imperative to do more studies of similar scope in the United States. Read about a recent U.S. study, Child Leukemia Rates Increase Near U.S. Nuclear Power Plants. Dr. Eisenberg states that Professor Rudi Nussbaum has analyzed studies around the world about childhood cancers and leukemia. Prof. Nussbaum has advocated for a study similar to KiKK to be conducted in the U.S. Read his analysis of global cancer studies, Childhood Leukemia and Cancers Near German Nuclear Reactors: Significance, Context, and Ramifications of Recent Studies (note: one can register without charge on the linked website to be able to read the full report for free, not just the abstract). Dr. Eisenberg refers to another “meta-analysis” of various countries’ studies by Dr. Peter Baker of the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Baker also found an increased risk of cancer near nuclear power plants, though Dr. Eisenberg says that KiKK study found a higher incidence. Read the articles Childhood leukemia rates ‘higher near nuclear plants’ and Elevated Leukemia Rates Near Nuclear Facilities.
Dr. Caldicott expresses her concern about future increases in genetic diseases caused by nuclear waste and radiation. Dr. Eisenberg concurs with her that from a medical perspective, all nuclear power plants worldwide should be shut down. They talk about the die-out or decrease in wild animal populations in the wake of Chernobyl, before turning to tritium, one of the isotopes released by nuclear power plants, and whose danger is greatly underestimated (partly because the nuclear industry tells the public tritium is perfectly safe).
Dr. Eisenberg refers to the work of Dr. Ian Fairlie in documenting the hazards of tritium exposure to human health. Read his report for Greenpeace, Tritium Hazard Report: Pollution and Radiation Risk from Canadian Nuclear Facilities. Dr. Caldicott notes that her book Nuclear Power Is Not The Answer addresses tritium. The article The medical and economic costs of nuclear power by Dr Helen Caldicott also mentions the toxicity of tritium.
Dr. Eisenberg refers the September 5 demonstrations in Berlin against nuclear power, which included farmers who live near nuclear power plants. The farmers drove tractors for days to come to the protest. See photos here. He says that pediatricians in Germany are mostly concerned about nuclear power, and quite involved in the German chapter of IPPNW. Dr. Caldicott urges listeners to take the issues in today’s program to heart and to help close all of the world’s nuclear reactors. Be sure to listen to this episode in its entirety!