BBC Technology –
There is categorically no evidence that living near nuclear power
stations increases the rate of childhood cancers, says a report. The
Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment based its
conclusions on data on 32,000 childhood cancer cases from 1969-93 in
the UK. Overall, children living within a 25km radius of a site were no
more likely to get cancer than those living elsewhere. However, there
was a cluster of cases close to the Rosyth nuclear dockyard. There were
slightly more cases of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma within the
immediate vicinity of the Rosyth site than was expected, which
conflicts with previous studies of this nuclear installation. The
authors said there were many possible explanations for this other than
radiation and recommended more research as soon as possible. Past and
the current data show similar clusters close to other nuclear (but
non-power station) sites, such as Aldermaston, Burghfield and Harwell
in the area of Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. The latest research is
the largest study so far looking at the cancer risk posed, if any, by
power stations. Professor Bryn Bridges, chairman of COMARE during the
preparation of this, its 10th report, said: “We think this is as
definitive a study as one can do. (06/10/05)
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BBC Nature — A
ban on fishing sandeels in the North Sea is welcome but comes too late
for this year’s seabirds, says the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds. Brussels is expected to close the sandeel fishery this month to
allow stocks of the small fish to recover. Many seabirds feed on the
sandeel and its decline was blamed for the worst breeding season on
record in 2004. But the RSPB says seabirds are breeding late again this
year, and some aren’t nesting at all. “Seabirds have delayed their
breeding this year, so what sandeel peak there is this summer, will
have passed when many seabirds and their chicks most need the food,”said Dr Euan Dunn, Head of Marine Policy at the RSPB. “Climate change
and the rise in North Sea temperatures may well be the major cause of
the sandeel decline and if so, will take years to reverse. Because of
that we need to make sure that other human action, notably fishing,
doesn’t make things worse for sandeels and seabirds in the short term.”Industrial fishing catches millions of tonnes of small fish - species
like sandeels, sprats and anchovies - to turn into meal and oil, much
of it to feed farmed fish. This reduces the catch for seabirds such as
kittiwakes, arctic terns, guillemots, and puffins, which rely on the
fish during the breeding season as a source of nutrition and to feed
its young. If they cannot find enough to eat, they either stop breeding
that year or nest too late. (06/10/05)
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