Electricity production and cancer risk

Little information is available about cancer risks from occupational and environmental exposures related to the different electricity-generating cycles. No cycle appears to be completely free from cancer risk but to make a quantitative estimate of cancer risk from different procedures is difficult. Combustion of coal, oil and other fossil fuels is associated with increased risk of various types of tumours in some occupational groups, such as coal miners and oil refinery workers. In addition, these processes release large amounts of known or suspected carcinogens into the atmosphere but their contribution to cancer risk from air pollution is unclear. Although nuclear workers do not appear to be at increased risk of cancer under normal operating conditions, nuclear accidents may cause very extensive radioactive contamination. Cancer risks related to the operation of renewable energy sources are negligible although there may be risks related to the construction of such installations. Additional potential sources of cancer risks include transportation of fuels, ozone depletion and waste disposal.