Unexplained findings from epidemiological studies in two different areas of radiation protection prompted the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) to intensify the research on the etiology of childhood leukemia: (i) the increased incidence of childhood leukemia near nuclear power plants and (ii) the consistently observed association of the risk for childhood leukemia with exposure to low-level low-frequency magnetic fields. For both findings, no plausible explanation exists according to the current knowledge of biological effects of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation. On a nearly bi-annual basis, BfS – and varying partners – jointly organized five scientific meetings to discuss the knowns and unknowns and to define a long-term strategic research agenda towards a better understanding of the main causes of childhood leukemia. As a further follow-up the BfS is organizing a 6th international workshop that will be held in Freising (Munich) on November 20-22, 2019.

The Workshop will discuss current research results and future research directions, focusing on potential mechanisms of childhood leukemia development. In different sessions and two special sessions the following topics will be discussed:

• Ionizing and non ionizing radiation as risk factors for childhood leukemia
• Mechanisms of leukemia development, including genetic and epigenetic factors, the role of the immune system and environmental risk factors
• Background radiation and risk of leukemia
• Animal models to study leukemia

The workshop is conducted by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS)) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

For more information please see: https://www.leukemia-workshop.de/general-information/