HC Deb 08 May 1984 vol 59 cc363-4W
Mr. Frank Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the levels of natural background radiation and the rates of mortality from (a) leukaemia and (b) other forms of cancer in the following areas: greater London, Southampton (CD), Newcastle upon Tyne (CD), Cardiff (CD), Dumfries and Galloway (Wigtown and Stewartry), Edinburgh (city), Dounreay (Caithness), Blackpool (CD), Liverpool (MCO), Kingston upon Hull (CD), Cornwall, north Wales (Gwynedd and Clwyd), Glasgow (city), Aberdeen (city), west Cumbria, Durham and Cleveland, respectively.

Mr. John Patten

The information requested is set out in the following table:

Deaths per Million Population from Leukaemia (International Classification of Diseases (1CD), 204–208) and Other Forms of Cancer (ICD 140–203) for Selected Areas of England, Scotland and Wales for 1980–1982 with Indicative Background Radiation Levels*
Area million population† Absorbed dose

rate in

Nanograys

per hours
Leukaemia Other cancers *
Greater London 72 2,651 27
Southampton (CD) 67 2,711 17
Newcastle upon Tyne (MCD) 75 3,373 51
Cardiff (CD) 59 2,615 43
Galloway(Wigtown and Stewartry) 51‡ 2,731 32
Edinburgh (city) 70 2,939 27
Caithness 73‡ 2,325 43║
Blackpool (CD) 69 3,637 31
Liverpool (MCD) 74 3,244 34
Kingston upon Hull(CD) 71 2,811 40
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 81 2,814 60
North Wales(Gwynedd and Clwyd) 71 2,749 41
Glasgow (city) 60 3,414 28
Aberdeen (city) 78 2,771 45
West Cumbria(Allerdale(CD)and Copeland(CD)) 49 2,503 41
Durham 70 2,575 40
Cleveland 59 2,561 42

Notes

* These are indicative values of the absorbed dose rates due to gamma rays measured in air 1 metre above unpaved ground out of doors. City values include results from contiguous 10km squares of the National Grid. The average value for Great Britain is about 40 nanograys per hour.

† Annual average rate based on 1981 population. These are crude death rates which do not reflect differences in the age/sex structure of the population in the selected areas.

‡ These rates are based on fewer than 20 deaths.

║ Dose rate for Dounreay; the Caithness rate is similar.