Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39614350›Full record

SynthesisEnvironmental health : a global access science source2024

The risk of thyroid cancer in relation to residential proximity to nuclear power plants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Susanna Abraham Cottagiri, Will King, Laura Rodriguez-Villamizar, Paul J Villeneuve

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Environmental health : a global access science source, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Susanna Abraham CottagiriDepartment of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Queens University, 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada. 20sac8@queensu.ca.
Will KingDepartment of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Queens University, 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
Laura Rodriguez-VillamizarFaculty of Health, Industrial University of Santander, Cra. 32, Santander, Bucaramanga, #29-31, Colombia.
Paul J VilleneuveDepartment of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Queens University, 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIonizing radiation is a human carcinogen, and there is a public concern but limited evidence that it increases the incidence of cancer among those who live near nuclear power plants (NPPs). Previous analyses of thyroid cancer in these populations have been inconsistent, and the last synthesis was published nearly a decade ago. To address these gaps, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis.

methodsA search strategy was developed and applied to PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. A total of 2006 publications were identified, with 11 studies of thyroid cancer incidence that met the inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) tool. Summary risk estimates relating residential proximity to the NPPs and thyroid cancer were generated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity in the risk estimates was assessed for study features that included: distance to the NPP, study quality, and biological sex.

resultsThe 11 studies were categorized as either highly (n = 8) or plausibly (n = 3) prone to bias, primarily due to the reliance on ecological study designs. The meta-analysis summary relative risk of thyroid cancer among those who live close to NPPs (defined by ≤ 25 km distance or jurisdictional areas (e.g., community, county) relative to those who lived further away was 1.09 (95% CI: 0.93-1.29). The risk estimates were higher for studies that modelled more proximal residential distances (≤ 5 km) to NPPs than larger distances (≤ 25 km and jurisdictional areas). We found that the summary risk (RR=1.29, 95% CI: 0.77-2.16) was stronger among those studies less prone to bias. A non-significant increased risk was found among both men and women, but there was no evidence of sex differences in risk.

conclusionOverall, the findings suggest that living near a nuclear power plant increases the risk of thyroid cancer. The small number of studies on this topic, and the finding of higher risks in studies less prone to bias highlights the need for better-designed studies.

Indexed as

Nuclear Power PlantsThyroid NeoplasmsEnvironmental ExposureFemaleHumansIncidenceNeoplasms, Radiation-InducedResidence CharacteristicsRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsIonizing radiationNuclear power plantSystematic review and meta-analysisThyroid cancer

Identifiers

PMID39614350
PMCPMC11606113

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.