Evaluation of the epodemiological study on children cancer in the vicinity of nuclear power plants (KiKK study). Scientific justification on the statement of the SSK (Strahlenschutzkommission)

The epidemiological study on children cancer in the vicinity of nuclear power plants (KiKKK) has been en published on December 10, 2007. The study shows that there is a statistical risk for children living close to nuclear power plants to get cancer (leukemia) before the age of 5 years. The Federal Ministry for environment, environmental protection and reactor safety has assigned the SSK (commission for radiation protection) to evaluate this study and to answer the question whether the radiation from nuclear power plants could be responsible fo the observed results. The SSK statement covers the following topics: design and accomplishment of the epidemiological study, actual state of knowledge, independent reevaluation of the KiKKK study, and evaluation of the KiKKK study. A final chapter answers the question of the Ministry