Cancer increase for people near reactors

U.S. counties located closer to operational nuclear power plants (NPPs)

have higher rates of cancer mortality than those located farther away,
according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

 Harvard 23rd Feb 2026 

 https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/proximity-to-nuclear-power-plants-associated-with-increased-cancer-mortality/

 Understanding the potential health implications of living near nuclear
power plants is important given the renewed interest in nuclear energy as a
low-carbon power source. Here we show that U.S. counties located closer to
operational nuclear power plants have higher cancer mortality rates than
those farther away. Using nationwide mortality data from 2000-2018, we
assess long-term spatial patterns of cancer mortality in relation to
proximity to nuclear facilities while accounting for socioeconomic,
demographic, behavioral, environmental, and healthcare factors. Cancer
mortality is higher across multiple age groups in both males and females,
with the strongest associations among older adults, males aged 65–74 and
females aged 55–64. While our findings cannot establish causality, they
highlight the need for further research into potential exposure pathways,
latency effects, and cancer-specific risks, emphasizing the importance of
addressing these potentially substantial but overlooked risks to public
health.

 Nature Communications 23rd Feb 2026 

 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69285-4

 Richard Wakeford et al respond to the Nature Communications paper.

 Science Media Centre 23rd Feb 2026 

 https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-observational-study-of-cancer-mortality-and-proximity-to-nuclear-power-plants-in-the-united-states/

 Proximity to US nuclear plants linked to 115,000 cancer deaths since 2000.
People living near nuclear power plants in the US face a higher risk of
cancer compared to the average across the country, researchers at Harvard
University have said. The study is the first this century to compare the
proximity of nuclear power plants with cancer mortality across all
facilities in the US and across every county. It also comes as countries
around the world are looking to ramp up installations of nuclear power
plants as a low-carbon source of baseload energy on the electricity grid.
The researchers looked at data collected between 2000 and 2018 using
“continuous proximity”. Advanced statistical modelling was used to
capture the cumulative impact of all nearby nuclear power plants, rather
than just one, even those located across the Canadian border. The data also
took other variables into account that could explain early mortality,
including educational attainment, median household income, racial
composition, average temperature and relative humidity, smoking prevalence,
BMI and proximity to the nearest hospital. It found that US counties
located closer to nuclear power plants experienced higher cancer mortality
rates, even after accounting for socioeconomic, environmental and
healthcare factors. The researchers estimated that over the course of the
study period, roughly 115,000 cancer deaths across the US (or about 6,400
deaths per year) could be attributed to being located near nuclear power
plants, with the association strongest among older adults.

 Engineering & Technology 23rd Feb 2026 

 https://eandt.theiet.org/2026/02/20/proximity-us-nuclear-plants-linked-115000-cancer-deaths-2000

 The Tribune (California) 23rd Feb 2026 

 https://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/article314804918.html

 Middle-aged women are the most at risk from living near power plants, a
study suggests. Researchers at Harvard University found that US counties
closer to nuclear plants had higher cancer death rates than those farther
away, even after accounting for socioeconomic, environmental and health
factors. The team estimated that 2.1 per cent of cancers in women aged
55-64 were “attributable” to living near a plant, the highest of all
age groups and genders. Similarly, 2 per cent of cancers in men aged 65-74
were linked to nuclear plants, the highest age range for males. Younger
people aged 35-44 had the lowest risk, with proximity to nuclear plants
accounting for 0.4 per cent of cancers in females and 0.6 per cent in
males. “Our study suggests that living near a nuclear power plant may
carry a measurable cancer risk – one that lessens with distance,” said
Dr Petros Koutrakis, the senior author and professor of environmental
health and human habitation at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
“We recommend that more studies be done that address the issue of nuclear
power plants and health impacts, particularly at a time when nuclear power
is being promoted as a clean solution to climate change.”

 Telegraph 23rd Feb 2026 

 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/23/middle-aged-women-most-at-risk-of-cancer-from-nuclear-power/