Above, BBC Scotland’s headline yesterday and then another that they were never going to write but should if they really believed in informing us like their mission statement claims.
The above from ECIS – European Cancer Information System for 2024, shows the cancer incidence (longer bars) and mortality rates (shorter darker bars) per 100 000.1
It’d be embarrassing, were we still in the EU, and presented on that chart.
BBC Scotland yesterday had: Risk of dying from cancer in Scotland at lowest rate on record but, of course, wasn’t going to be comparing.
Why?
Scotland incidence is 656 per 100 0002 and mortality 288.9 per 100 0003, both higher than almost any other country in the EU.
EU averages – and 546 and 249.1
Rest of the UK averages? 607 and 2524, significantly lower than in Scotland but still amongst highest in EU.
What causes this?
Don’t say smoking. Amongst the lowest in Europe5:
My guess – nuclear energy especially the leaking waste site at Sellafield just south, upstream and upwind, of the Scottish border.
Sources:
- https://ecis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/data-explorer#/estimates/estimated-incidence-mortality-by-country?orderedByIndicator=IN&indicator=IN%2CMO&sex=0&statistic=ASR_EU_NEW&yearFrom=2024&yearTo=2024&ageFrom=0&ageTo=85%2B&country=EU27&cancerEntity=0
- https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancer-incidence-in-scotland/cancer-incidence-in-scotland-to-december-2023/
- https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality-in-scotland-annual-update-to-2024/
- https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/all-cancers-combined
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/smoking-rates-by-country
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Hunterston, is still pumping out radation from the cracks in the faulty facility. Friends in the village of Fairlie live with cancer and know of others from the same street who are also affected or have already died. This is one small street with three active cases and one who had already died. I am sure if others were interviewed locally many would also know if many others.
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