Blood, 1961, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 319-327.
© 1961 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Mortality in Relation
to Cosmic Radiation
LEONARD CRAIG and
HERBERT SEIDMAN
The 1949-1951 leukemia and lymphoma mortality rates for the 163 metropolitan areas in the United States were compared to the corresponding elevations
of the areas, taken as an approximate measure of the intensity of cosmic radiation. No increase in mortality rates with rise in elevation was apparent. From
this it is concluded that at usual habitation levels in the United States variation in cosmic ray intensity either has no effect upon leukemia and lymphoma
mortality rates, or has very small effect as compared to other factors.
The same procedure was applied to congenital malformation mortality
rates. In this instance, there appears to be a distinct increase in this condition
between the lowest elevation zone and all others.
If we assume a positive relationship between the intensity of cosmic
radiation and the rate of congenital malformations, it is reasonable to expect
a progressive increase in congenital malformations as elevation (and hence
cosmic radiation) increases. However, according to table 6, the rate of congenital malformation mortality remains fairly constant over the three highest
elevation zones. From this it is concluded that the variation in the intensity
of cosmic radiation does not play an important part in the mortality from this
disease. It is possible that some factor not considered by us accounts for the
difference in congenital malformation mortality between the lowest elevation
zone and the other zones.
Submitted on October 28, 1960
Accepted on December 9, 1960
