Publication Laka-library:
A Survey of cancer in the vicinity of Trawnsfynydd NPP in North Wales
| Author | C.Busby, Green Audit |
| Date | June 2006 |
| Classification | 2.05.8.70/02 (UNITED KINGDOM - TRAWSFYNYDD) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
Introduction The question of high cancer rates in north Wales has been one of significant debate since one of us called attention to high levels of cancer in Wales (Busby 1994). Since then a study funded by the Irish State of the Wales Cancer Registry small area database which was released to Green Audit in 1996 has revealed high levels of all cancers in adults and children in the period 1974 to 1989. Highest levels were found close to parts of the Irish Sea coast which were contaminated with radioactive material from Sellafield. These included the Menai Strait and northern coastal towns. The rates of cancer were found to be increasing toward the end of this period, particularly in children (Busby 2002). The Wales Cancer Registry was dissolved in 1996 and replaced in 1997 by the Wales Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU) which has consistently denied claims that there are any excess cancer rates in north Wales. The denials followed a BBC documentary TV programme, Sea of Troubles, broadcast in February 1998 which drew attention to the findings of increases in child leukaemia near the coast. The levels of cancer were examined by the WCISU who published a report claiming that the levels of childhood cancer were normal. This report was endorsed by the government Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment, COMARE, which had been set up in the wake of the Sellafield child leukaemia cluster enquiry under Sir Douglas Black in 1984. However, examination of the report by WCISU revealed that 18% of the child cancer cases had been removed from the WCR database, and the original files supplied to Green Audit had been wiped from the computer system and so could not be examined to see where the children had been taken from. The claims of high levels of cancer in adults had not been examined by WCISU or by COMARE. Welsh Assembly Government accepted the claims of COMARE and WCISU and made official statements that there was no excess cancer in north Wales, and that the WCR dataset Green Audit had used was corrupt.
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