Learning difficulties in children born to male UK nuclear industry employees; analysis from the nuclear industry family study

Abstract

There has been much debate about paternal pre-conceptual exposure to low level ionising radiation and possible increased risk of ill health among the children subsequently conceived. The prevalence of reported learning difficulties was examined in over 16 000 children born to UK nuclear industry workers, using fathers' information on exposure from the workers' individual employment and dosimetry records. There was no evidence that paternal exposure to low level ionising radiation at work influences the prevalence of learning difficulties in otherwise healthy children conceived after exposure.