A new nationwide study led by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports that U.S. counties situated closer to operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) have higher cancer death rates than counties located farther away.
This is the first study of the 21st century to examine the relationship between proximity to NPPs and cancer mortality across every nuclear power plant and all U.S. counties. The authors caution that the results do not prove that nuclear plants cause cancer deaths. However, they say the findings point to the need for deeper investigation into the possible health effects of nuclear power.
The research was published in Nature Communications on Feb. 23, 2026.
A Nationwide Analysis of Nuclear Plants and Cancer Deaths
Research on potential links between nuclear power plants and cancer has been conducted in several countries, but findings have been inconsistent. In the United States, most previous studies have focused on a single facility and its surrounding area, limiting the ability to draw broader conclusions.
To provide a more comprehensive picture, the team analyzed national data from 2000 through 2018 using a method known as “continuous proximity.” This approach measures how close each county is to nuclear plants and accounts for the combined influence of multiple nearby facilities rather than examining only one. Information about the location and operating history of U.S. plants, along with some in Canada, came from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. County level cancer mortality data was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The researchers also adjusted for a wide range of factors that could affect cancer death rates. These included educational attainment, median household income, racial composition, average temperature and relative humidity, smoking prevalence, BMI, and distance to the nearest hospital.
Estimated 115,000 Cancer Deaths Linked to Proximity
Even after accounting for socioeconomic, environmental, and health care variables, the pattern remained. Counties closer to nuclear power plants experienced higher cancer mortality rates. Over the study period, the researchers estimate that approximately 115,000 cancer deaths nationwide, or about 6,400 per year, were associated with proximity to NPPs. The link was strongest among older adults.
“Our study suggests that living near a NPP may carry a measurable cancer risk — one that lessens with distance,” said senior author Petros Koutrakis, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation. “We recommend that more studies be done that address the issue of NPPs and health impacts, particularly at a time when nuclear power is being promoted as a clean solution to climate change.”
Consistent Findings and Study Limitations
The researchers noted that these results align with findings from a similar study they previously conducted in Massachusetts, which found higher cancer incidence among people living closer to nuclear facilities.
They also acknowledged limitations. The analysis did not include direct radiation measurements and instead assumed that all nuclear power plants had the same potential impact. As a result, while the study identifies a significant association, it cannot determine whether nuclear plants directly caused the increase in cancer deaths.
Key Points
- Counties closer to operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) have higher cancer death rates than counties farther away, even after researchers adjusted for income, education, environmental conditions, smoking, obesity, and access to health care.
- This is the first nationwide study of the 21st century to examine how proximity to every U.S. nuclear power plant relates to cancer mortality across all U.S. counties.
- The results do not prove that nuclear power plants cause cancer. However, they raise important questions and underscore the need for more research, especially as nuclear energy is increasingly promoted as part of the solution to climate change.
