Epidemiology of leukaemia. Background for future studies.

The author of this paper suggests that the very considerable geographical variations in leukaemia mortality warrant continued investigation. However, studies attempting to relate leukaemia mortality to variation in levels of natural radioactivity might to advantage be confined, for the moment, to areas in which differences in natural radioactivity levels are substantial. The investigation of certain groups of patients exposed to ionizing radiation from medical sources is also important to an understanding of the etiology of leukaemia.There are other groups in which the leukaemia experience is unusual and which might form the basis for further investigation. These include mongolian idiots and their relatives, children aged 3-4 years, children in certain maternal age and parity groups, certain segments of the population of Israel, and persons occupationally exposed to benzol.