J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Nov;38(44):e369. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e369.

Increased Screening Rates for Thyroid Cancer Among Residents Living Near Nuclear Power Plants

• Lee GB
• Park S
• Jang WI
• Park S
• Jun JK
• Seo S

• KMID: 2547973
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e369

Abstract

Frequent screening for thyroid cancer has been suggested as a probable explanation for the observed high risk of thyroid cancer in nuclear power plant (NPP) areas. We aimed to compare thyroid cancer screening rates of residents living near NPPs to those of the general population. This study utilized data from two national survey-based studies in 2016 and in 2014, respectively, for residents (n = 1,200) living in administrative districts within 5 km of NPP sites as the interest group, and the general population (n = 228,712) including distantliving residents (n = 19,100) in administrative districts within 30 km of NPP sites as reference groups. We observed an increase in screening rates in residents near NPPs, which may lead to a higher possibility of thyroid cancer detection. Therefore, further epidemiological studies investigating radiation-induced thyroid cancer risk among residents near NPPs should be carefully designed and interpreted considering possible detection bias.

Keyword

Nuclear Power Plants; Thyroid Neoplasms; Public Health, Environment

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Geographic zones indicating the areas of interest, within 5 km from NPPs, and one of the reference areas, within 30 km from the NPPs, by the NPP sites. Reference areas of distant-living residents included the following 21 administrative districts: (A) Parts of Busan metropolitan city (Geumjung-gu, Gijang-gun, Nam-gu, Dongnae-gu, Buk-gu, Suyeong-gu, Yeonje-gu, Haeundae-gu, Busanjin-gu), Yangsan-si, and part of Ulsan metropolitan city (Ulju-gun). (B) Parts of Ulsan metropolitan city (Jung-gu, Nam-gu, Dong-gu, Buk-gu), Nam-gu (Pohang-si), and Gyeongju-si. (C) Gochang-gun and Yeonggwang-gun. (D) Uljin-gun and Samcheock-si.NPP = nuclear power plant.

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