OBJECTIVES: To assess whether residential proximity to industrial incinerators in England is associated with increased risk of cancer incidence and mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective study using matched case-control areas. SETTING: Five circular regions of radius 10 km near industrial incinerators in England (case regions) and five matched control regions, 1998-2008. PARTICIPANTS: All cases of diseases of interest within the circular areas. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Counts of childhood cancer incidence (