The article ‘Somerset’s nuclear seaside resort’ in Green Health Watch 16 reported abnormally high rates of breast cancer in the town of Burnham-on-Sea, which is downwind of the Hinckley Point nuclear power station in Somerset. New research from Green Audit has now found similar evidence of abnormally high levels of perinatal and infant mortality, still birth and sex birth ratio abnormalities, and noted correlations with accepted leaks of radioactive materials.

The new study from Green Audit is doubly important. It not only provides further evidence of the damage and danger to human health presented by nuclear power stations, but also puts moral and scientific pressure on the powers that be to recognise still birth, perinatal and infant mortality as possible effects of exposure to radioactive pollution. They are currently not acknowledged as such.

For births occurring 1993-1998
Infant mortality

Infant mortality rates in local electoral wards within twelve kilometres of the radioactively contaminated Steart Flats were 50-100% higher than those in wards further away, irrespective of family income. Rates in the ward of Burnham-on-Sea itself were just over four times higher.

Perinatal mortality
(still births and deaths within 28 days of birth)

Perinatal mortality rates in the local electoral wards within twelve kilometres of the Flats were 37-50% higher than those in wards further away. Rates in the ward of Burnham-on-Sea itself were just under seven times higher.

Sex birth ratio
(the proportion of boy babies born compared with girl babies born)

Sex birth ratio in England and Wales is normally 5% more boys than girls. In the Burnham-on-Sea ward nearest the most contaminated mudflats, the ratio was 19% more boy babies than girl babies, similar to ratios detected in Hiroshima during the years after the atomic bomb was dropped.

For births occurring 1999-2005

Infant mortality

Infant mortality rates in local wards within twelve kilometres of the radioactively contaminated Steart Flats were only a little higher than those in wards further away. Rates in the ward of Burnham-on-Sea itself were similar.

Perinatal mortality

Perinatal rates in the Burnham local wards within twelve kilometres of the Flats were 37-50% higher than those in wards further away. Rates in the ward of Burnham-on-Sea itself were similar.

Sex birth ratio

Sex birth ratio was again 19% more boys than girls.

Taking the period 1993-2005 as a whole

• infant deaths peaked in 1996 and remained high until 2001 when they began to tail off, suggesting radioactive leaks in 1995
• the damage from radioactive pollution was felt in the local wards bordering the estuary of the River Parrat as far as Bridgwater, but especially in Burnham-on-Sea North ward. The infant and perinatal mortality rates were nearly three times higher than those in local wards further inland

A full copy of the study is available at:

• http://www.llrc.org/epidemiology/subtopic/infmort.pdf
• http:/64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:TuBi78jU3QYJ: www.llrc.org/epidemiology/ (html)