Association between thyroid cancer incidence and the distance from nuclear power plants in the U.S.

Concerns about cancer risk among populations living near nuclear power plants have persisted for decades, particularly regarding thyroid cancer due to the gland’s sensitivity to radiation. Previous studies have reported mixed findings, with some suggesting elevated incidence rates near plants in the northeastern United States, where nuclear facilities are most concentrated. This study quantified thyroid cancer incidence rates within three distance zones (<15 miles, 15–<30 miles, and 30–<45 miles) from the nearest nuclear power plant and applied a multivariate mixed-effects model to assess associations while adjusting for confounders. After adjustment, no significant relationship was found between proximity to nuclear power plants and thyroid cancer incidence (β ≈ -0.003, p = 0.872). These findings suggest that living near nuclear power plants is not associated with increased thyroid cancer risk in the U.S.