A Study on Cancer Mortality in Tarapur-Based Atomic Energy Community

Abstract

Cancer mortality risks for individuals who were employed at nuclear facilities in Tarapur and for their respective family members with whom they lived were examined. Cancer deaths that occurred in this population between 1971 and 1988 were compared with death rates published by the Bombay City Cancer Registry. Risks were expressed as standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), which were computed by dividing the observed number of deaths by the expected number of deaths and multiplying this value times 100. There were 11 deaths from cancer among the employees, and this figure was too small to permit any trend analysis with respect to radiation exposures. The SMRs for all cancers and leukemia for male employees and for middle-aged male family members who were not exposed to any radiation were not statistically significant. A much larger database of person years at risk would be required to reach definite conclusions. The combined cancer risks for employees and families combined were similar to risks experienced by individuals in Bombay.