Children living near oil, gas wells face higher risk of rare leukaemia, states research

Acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL)—though rare—is one of the most common cancers in children.

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It begins in the bone marrow and progresses rapidly. While medical advances have ensured that long-term survival rates now exceed 90 per cent, many survivors face lifelong health challenges, including heart disease, mental health struggles and increased risk of secondary cancers. While overall cancer rates in the US have declined since 2002, rates of childhood ALL are on the rise. This troubling trend has shifted focus from treatment to prevention—particularly regarding environmental exposure.