Living near a gas station raises childhood cancer risk, study shows

Childhood cancers are devastating. Even when the disease is not fatal, its long-term effects can be severe. Not enough is known about the risk factors. "Research suggests that only 5% to 10% of childhood cancers are attributable solely to genetics, while the rest are due to other factors, particularly environmental ones," explained Stéphane Buteau, a professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health at Université de Montréal.