To increase the risk of leukaemia high levels of exposure to radiation are known, but the levels of exposure for the public, including people in the nuclear industry, radiologists, and people living near Sellafield, are so low that researchers cannot find any reliable evidence of increased risk for them. Smoking increases the risk of myeloid leukaemia. Exposure to benzene (an industrial chemical) has also been linked to a risk of these leukaemias. The chemotherapy and radiotherapy used to treat some other cancers does cause a slight increase in the risk of getting acute myeloid leukaemia, although this is low enough to justify the use of these therapies.
There is no reliable evidence that living near power lines or electricity generators is linked to an increased risk of leukaemia. Some research has found a link between people working in power generating facilities and a higher risk of leukaemia, but other studies have not.
