Somebody is missing something…

I overlayed the latest State of North Carolina Papillary Thyroid Cancer incidence rate map (2012-2016, March 2019 reporting) with the locations of the State’s three nuclear power plants.

Observations: 

• Highest incidence rate of Papillary Thyroid cancer(16.3-21) in NC is positively correlated within 20 km of the two largest NC Nuclear Power Plants, McGuire Nuclear(2316 MW) and Brunswick Nuclear(1870 MW) and also elevated incidence(11.0-16.2) is correlated within 20 km of Harris Nuclear(928 MW).
• Incidence rate is positively correlated with the amount of power generation from a plant(MW) – 3 data points
• Elevated thyroid cancer incidence rate around Brunswick Nuclear appears to cover a large distance along the coastline, McGuire Nuclear to the NNE and Harris Nuclear more to the West of the plant.

References:

• https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/data/hsa/cancer.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_Nuclear_Generating_Station
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGuire_Nuclear_Station
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shearon_Harris_Nuclear_Power_Plant
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284913816_Living_near_nuclear_power_plants_and_thyroid_cancer_risk_A_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis

“However, sensitivity analysis by exposure definition showed that living less than 20 km from nuclear power plants was associated with a significant increase in the risk of thyroid cancer in well-designed studies (summary OR = 1.75; 95% CI 1.17–2.64).”

I agree…

More coming…