[Is the nuclear center a risk for the population and workers during usual operation?]

Radioactive material is formed in nuclear power plants during normal operation but adequate shielding insulate them from the outside. Population receive very low radiation doses from nuclear plants releases, insignificant in comparison with natural radiation. Epidemiological studies which were conducted in populations living near nuclear power plants have shown excess leukaemia in children in the United Kingdom but were negative in other countries. The hypothesis of a genetic effect of radiation on the leukaemic children's fathers who were working in nuclear plants has been rejected. Nuclear workers receive higher doses than population, but much lower than the regular standards. At the moment, it is not possible to take into account any increase of diseases, especially of specific cancers, in the workers, even if a few isolated increases have been noted. A slight increase in leukemia is possible in workers who have received the highest doses but the margin of uncertainties is large.