Childhood leukaemia in Ireland

In response to professional and public concern about health consequences, in particular cancer risk, from previous and current levels of ionising radiation in the Irish Sea, a study of incidence and mortality from acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) and other lymphoid malignancies in children was undertaken. Overall rates were similar to those found in other western populations and distribution of high rates was quite random over the country as a whole. There was a small but significant excess in incidence of ALL for the years 1974-76 in a narrow three mile wide strip along the east coast. It is not possible in the context of this study to postulate aetiological factors which might explain this finding.