Question: What if a place name actually tells you something about the land itself? Elbmarsch is such a place. We are standing in the Samtgemeinde Elbmarsch. Its name reveals a key aspect of its geography and history.
Elbmarsch is a “collective municipality”. It is located in the district of Harburg in Lower Saxony, Germany. The Samtgemeinde Elbmarsch sits on the Elbe’s southern bank. It is about 30 km southeast of Hamburg. Lüneburg is 20 km to the north.
The seat of the Samtgemeinde Elbmarsch is in Marschacht. “Marsch” is German for marshes. So, Elbmarsch means “the marshes along the Elbe”. This name reflects the area’s landscape. The Elbe river has shaped this land.
Marschacht itself is an interesting place. It shares a history with Geesthacht. Geesthacht is only a few kilometers away. In 1216, Marschacht was first mentioned as Hachede. At that time, it was part of Saxony. Later, the Elbe’s course changed. This split the settlement into two parts. One part became Geesthacht. It is now in Schleswig-Holstein. The other part is Marschacht. It remains in Lower Saxony.
The Samtgemeinde Elbmarsch includes several municipalities. Besides Marschacht, there are Tespe and Drage.
However, Elbmarsch faces a somber chapter in its history. For over 15 years, it was the center of a pediatric cancer cluster. This means that there was an unusually high rate of childhood leukemia here. The rate was much higher than in Germany overall.
Experts identified ten more cases than expected. This happened over that long period. Despite investigations, the cause remains unknown. Elbmarsch is near two nuclear establishments. One theory considered a possible radiation release in 1986. The Krümmel Nuclear Power Plant began operations in 1983. It is near Elbmarsch.
Anti-nuclear activists suspected the plant. They believed it caused the cancer cluster. This led to several investigations. Some found small amounts of nuclear material. They even found plutonium in the Elbe.
The origins of this material are disputed. One report cleared the Krümmel plant. Another suggested a fire in 1986 as a source. Some even considered the Chernobyl disaster. However, the likely source is nuclear reprocessing plants in France. A 2010 report cleared the power plants on the Elbe. It said they did not cause the contamination.
The increased leukemia cases remain a mystery. They could be from other environmental factors. Or, they could simply be due to chance. Some scientists looked at other factors. These include electromagnetic fields and parental radiation exposure. They also considered carcinogens and benzene exposure. However, there is no clear evidence to support these ideas.
Intriguingly, one study found a correlation. It linked leukemia risk to an “untrained immune system”. Children with less contact with others and fewer vaccinations seemed more at risk. This suggests that a challenged immune system might offer protection.
Elbmarsch is a place of natural beauty and historical significance. It faces challenges too. The mystery of the cancer cluster remains. It is a reminder of the complexities of our environment. Elbmarsch is a community striving to understand its past. It looks forward to a healthier future.