ML072120423

Limited Appearance Statement of Joseph J. Mangano

ML072120423
Person / Time
Site:	Harris
Issue date:	07/17/2007
From:	Mangano J Radiation & Public Health Project
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SECY RAS
References
50-400-LR, RAS 13944
Download: ML072120423 (10)

Text

DOCKETED USNRC July 17, 2007 (10:00am)

OFFICE OF SECRETARY PATTERNS OF RADIOACTIVE EMISSIONS AND HEALTH TRENDS RULEMAKINGS AND ADJUDICATIONS STAFF NEAR THE SHEARON HARRIS NUCLEAR REACTOR Joseph J. Mangano MPH MBA Docket No. 50-400-LR Radiation and Public Health Project July 17,2007 Introduction and Operating: Capacity. The Shearon Harris nuclear power reactor is located in New Hill NC, in southwestern Wake County, about 20 miles from Raleigh. On April 29, 1971, Carolina Power and Light announced plans to build three reactors at the site, but two were cancelled several years later. On January 3, 1987, Shearon achieved initial criticality (began producing radioactivity), and on May 2, 1987 it began commercial operations (reached full capacity and began selling electricity). (Source: U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, www.nrc.gov).

Although Shearon Harris has operated for more than 20 years, it is the 1 ih newest of the 104 reactors in the United States.

Through 1998, Shearon Harris was closed 16% of the time due to various mechanical problems and routine maintenance. But from 1999 to mid-2005, it was closed only 6% of the time. (Source: u.s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, www.nrc.gov).

Radioactivitv Produced in Reactors. All nuclear power plants operate by splitting uranium-235 atoms, which produces high heat that is transformed into electrical power.

The process of splitting, known as fission, also produces over 100 chemicals not found in nature. These chemicals are the same cocktail produced in atomic bombs used in Japan in World War II, and in bomb tests worldwide (the U.S. conducted over 1100 such tests in Nevada and the South Pacific from 1946 to 1992).

Each fission product is radioactive. When it enters the body through breathing and the food chain, it kills and injures healthy cells, which can lead to cancer and other immune-related diseases. Each chemical, called isotopes, affects the body differently. Iodine-131 attaches to the thyroid gland. Strontium-90 seeks out the bone. Cesium-13 7 disperses throughout the soft tissues.

Each isotope decays at a different rate. Some decay quickly, and disappear within days or even hours. But others decay much more slowly. Strontium-90 has a half life of 29 years, while that of plutonium-239 is 24,000 years. Thus, some of these chemicals will reside in the body for a lifetime. These chemicals decay into "daughter products" of which some are also radioactive, before finally becoming non-radioactive, or stable.

The fetus, infant, and child are especially susceptible to the damage caused by fission products. In 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated the health risks to infants under age two are 10 times greater than those to adults.

Radioactive Emissions. While most fission products are contained within a reactor and stored as high-level waste, all reactors must release radioactivity into the air and water in order to operate. Some of these are routine ongoing emissions, some are accidental, and

some are scheduled (such as during refueling, which must be performed approximately every 18 months).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission sets annual emission limits for reactors, and requires utilities to measure and report them. Shearon Harris has complied with regulatory limits in each year of its operation. While emission levels are relatively low, there is considerable variation over time. Annual airborne releases of all radioactive isotopes with a half life over eight days - and thus, most likely to enter the food chain -

ranged from 2 to 816 millicuries during the first seven years that Shearon Harris operated (see below).

ANNUAL AIRBORNE RELEASES OF RADIOACTIVITY SHEARON HARRIS NUCLEAR REACTOR, 1987-1993 Year 1-131 and Em uents 1987 4 1988 46 1989 ')

1990 77 1991 47 1992 816 1993 181 1-131 and Effluents= radioactive chemicals with a half life >8 days in millicuries (one-millionth of a curie).

Source: Tichler J, Doty K, Lucadamo K. Radioactive Materials Released from Nuclear Power Plants.

Upton NY: Brookhaven National Laboratory, compiled for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

NUREG/CR-2907. Annual Reports (comparative reports ceased after 1993).

Local Environmental Levels of Radioactivity. The NRC also places limits on levels of radioactivity in the environment, i.e. the air, water, soil, and vegetation, near nuclear plants. Utilities are required to measure such levels and report them to the NRC.

While radioactivity levels near Shearon Harris are all below regulatory limits, there is considerable variation over time. One example of this variation occurred in 2004 in drinking water at two locations 6.2 and 17.2 miles from the reactor. Levels of "gross beta," which constitutes all radioactive chemicals that emit beta particles (others emit alpha particles or gamma rays), were measured each month.

Levels steadily increased until by September they had doubled those detected in March, before leveling off. Moreover, the 2004 average for the two sites of 4.95 and 4.82 are nearly double the U.S. average of 3.01. At a site on the Shearon Harris grounds, the concentration of tritium (radioactive heavy hydrogen) in drinking water tripled during this time (see below).

2

There is some variation in each measurement. But such consistent data near Shearon Harris strongly suggests that releases from the plant travel a distance of at least 17 miles, and are entering the local environment, and human bodies.

MONTHLY GROSS BETA ACTIVITY IN DRINKING WATER, 2004 TWO LOCA TJONS NEAR HARRIS NUCLEAR PLANT ricocuries gross beta per liter Date Location 38 Location 40 January 12 4.19 3.47 February 9 4.74 4.18 March 11 3.38 2.77 April 12 5.08 5.18 May 13 4.85 3.49 June 13 5.12 5.02 July 12 5.59 6.07 August 16 6.66 6.62 September 13 7.00 5.77 (more than double March)

October 11 4.84 5.52 November 11 5.12 5.81 December 13 2.82 3.91 Yearly average 4.95 4.82 U.S. avg, 78 stations 2003 3.01 Location 38 is Cape Fear plant intake, 6.2 miles from Harris Location 40 is in Lillington on the Cape Fear River, 17.2 miles from Harris Sources: Radiological Environmental Operating Amended Report, 2004, September 23, 2005,

\vww.nrc.l!OV(local data). Environmental Radiation Data, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Montgomery AL, Volumes 112 and 116, www.epa.govinarel, Environmental Radiation Data (U.S. data).

MONTHL Y TRITIUM IN DRINKING WATER, 2004 WATER TREATMENT BUILDING AT HARRIS NUCLEAR PLANT (location 51)

Date Picocuries Tritium per liter January 12 2200 February 9 2250 March 11 1850 April 12 1890 May 13 2160 June 13 3580 July 12 5150 (nearly triple March)

August 16 4610 September 13 4520 October 11 5400 November 11 5120 December 13 5240 Source: Radiological Environmental Operating Amended Report, 2004, September 23, 2005, w\vw.nrc.gov 3

Chan~es in Local Disease and Death Rates. In 1990, the U.S. National Cancer Institute published the only national study examining changes in cancer before and after startup of nuclear plants. Because the study was restricted only to nuclear plants operating before 1982, no data near the Shearon Harris plant was included. Thus, there have been no studies by government or independent researchers on health patterns near the plant.

The NCI report typically defined the area near nuclear reactors as the one or two most proximate counties, often within 30 miles. A logical selection of counties to study near Shearon Harris would include Durham and Wake Counties, as residents of both live within 30 miles of the plant. Prevailing local winds from the southwest also mean that Durham and Wake Counties are downwind, and most likely to be exposed to releases.

The two counties have a growing population of over 1 million, a fourfold increase since the late 1950s. The area has a poverty rate that is somewhat below the state and nation; an above-average household income level; and a highly-educated population (see below).

These demographic factors, plus the availability of world class medical care in the Triangle area, suggest no obvious health risk for local residents.

POPULA TION OF DURHAM AND WAKE COUNTIES, 1950-2006 Year Total Wake 361,134 454,112 605,215 228,453 301,327 281,077 1,033,418 423,380 136,450 238,089 169,082 627,846 Durham 246,896 181,835 132,681 851,160 786,522 101,639 111,995 152,785 223,314 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.f!OV, Your Gateway to 2000 Census, State/County Quick Facts.

SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS DURHAM AND WAKE COUNTIES vs. N.C. AND U.S.

24.4 22.5 Characteristic 11.1 5.3 12.7 43.9 40863 9.7 13.8 80.4 78.1 9.2 44334 57846 N.C.

Wake U.S.

89.3 40.1 44048 10.9 14.9 Durham 83.0 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, www.censlls.gov, Your Gateway to 2000 Census, State/County Quick Facts.

Infant Deaths. While all humans are affected by radiation exposure, those most susceptible are the very young, especially the developing fetus, whose cells are duplicating at a very rapid rate. Deaths to infants, especially those that occur shortly after birth, are often a result of problems during pregnancy. The number of deaths to 4

infants in the first month of life from 1986 to 1987 rose in the two-county area from 69 to 97, an increase of 34% compared to a 2% increase for the rest of NOlih Carolina and a 4% decline nationally (see below). Because Shearon Harris began producing radioactivity on January 3, 1987, this can be considered as an initial before-and-after startup comparison.

NEONATAL MORTALITY RATE (DEATHS UNDER 28 DAYS)

DURHAM AND WAKE COUNTY vs. OTHER N.C. AND U.S., 1986-1987 97 8333 72 Ch 9.09 1986 1987 25 658 2664 5669 Rate 8.72 11.64 7.92 9.38 Deaths!

1986 82339 2526 +34 1986 7915 +40 12.70 5389 +196.46 Births 85168 25212 20 622 1000 697.73 Live 49 Deaths 3756547 -7.55

+ 24 days 24627

< 28 3809394 6.71 Difference in rate change between two counties and U.S. significant at p<.04.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, http://wonder.cdc.gov, underlying cause of death.

Childhood Cancer. Perhaps the most-studied disease near nuclear plants is childhood cancer. As farback as the late 1950s, Dr. Alice Stewart demonstrated that as little as one pelvic X-ray to a pregnant woman nearly doubled the chance the child would die of cancer by age ten. (Stewart A et al. A survey of childhood malignanCies. British Medical Journal 1958;i: 1495-1508). Because Stewart identified children under age ten, and because the National Cancer Institute used the same age group as a category in its 1990 study, cancer in Durham and Wake County children under age ten can be analyzed.

For analyses of potential causes, using incidence of cancer is often more helpful than mortality, as advances in diagnosis and treatment allow most children afflicted with cancer to survive. But no incidence data exists in North Carolina before 1990, thereby preventing any before-and-after comparison near Shearon Harris. Current (1990-2003) data show Wake and Durham children have an incidence rate 10% above other North Carolina counties, based on 241 cases diagnosed (see below). No comparable data exists for the 50 states.

CANCER INCIDENCE RATE, CHILDREN AGE 0-9,1990-2003 DURHAM AND WAKE COUNTY vs. OTHER NORTH CAROLINA Area Cases Avg. Population Cases/lOOO  % +!- Other NC Durham County 66 28,971 16.27 +14 Wake County 175 80,328 15.56 + 9 Total 2 Counties 241 109,299 15.75 +10 Other NC 1862 931,724 14.27 Source: North Carolina State Cancer Registry, from special request, 2007.

5

Even though there are many fewer childhood cancer deaths than cases, the existence of a historical data base makes it possible to analyze rates before and after the startup of Shearon Harris. From 1979-1987 to 1988-2004, the Durham/Wake childhood cancer mortality rate rose 51%, compared to a decline of 29% elsewhere in the state and nation (see below). With a total of 71 local deaths after Shearon Harris startup, the increase is statistically significant. Before startup, the local rate was well below state and national standards, but now it exceeds other North Carolina by 31% and the U.S. by 20%.

CANCER MORTALITY RATE, CHILDREN AGE 0-9 DURHAM AND WAKE COUNTY vs. OTHER NC AND US, 1979-1987 to 1988-2004 Cancer Deaths 0-9 Pop. 0-9 Deaths/1 00000 Area 1979-87 1988-04 1979-87 1988-04 1979-87 1988-04 % Ch Rate Durham County 5 24 188199 485984 2.66 4.94 +86 Wake County 10 47 393400 1339445 2.54 3.51 +38 2 counties 15 71 581599 1825429 2.58 3.89 +51 OtherNC 295 465 704068415.7m 4.19 2.96 -29 U.S. 13931 21316 305.4 m 657.8 m 4.56 3.24 - 29 Difference in rate change between two counties and other NC/U.S. significant at p<.OOOI.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, http://wonder.cdc.gov, underlying cause of death. ICD-9 codes include 140.0-239.9 (1979-1998). ICD-IO codes include COO-D48.9 (1999-2004).

The 20 most populated U.S. counties account for about 19% of the U.S. total. Everyone of these counties experienced a reduction in childhood cancer mortality (between 19%

and 44%). In the period 1988-2004, the Durham/Wake rate was greater than that for each of the 20 counties (see below and appendix).

CANCER MORTALITY RATE, CHILDREN AGE 0-9 DURHAM AND WAKE COUNTY vs. 20 MOST POPULATED U.S. COUNTIES 1988-2004 1988-2004 Area Deaths 0-9 Avg. Pop. 0-9 Deaths/1 00,000  % +/- U.S.

Durham/Wake NC 71 107,378 3.89 +20 OtherNC 465 923,636 2.96 - 9 TOTAL20COS 4,387 7,624,289 3.38 + 4 TOTAL U.S. 21,316 38,696,270 3.24 Deaths/IOO,OOO(Deaths)

Area 1979-1987 1988-2004  % ChRate Durham/Wake NC 2.58 (15) 3.89 ( 71) +51 OtherNC 4.19 (295) 2.96 (465) - 29 TOTAL20COS 4.82 (2624) 3.38 ( 4387) - 30 TOTAL U.S. 4.56 (13931) 3.24 (21316) - 29 Source: National Center for Health Statistics, http://wonder.cdc.gov, underlying cause of death. lCD-to codes include COO-D48.9.

6

Cancer in Adults. Most U.S. states did not have a reliable cancer incidence registry until about 1990. In recent years, the federal government has attempted to produce comparative incidence data for all states. The web site for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now makes available 1999-2002 incidence data for 38 states (including North Carolina) plus the District of Columbia, accounting for about 85% of the total U.S. population. It also includes data for 55 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), including RaleighJCary, which includes Franklin, Johnston, and Wake Counties (Wake accounts for about 80% of the population in this group).

While incidence cannot be compared before and after Shearon Harris startup, it is possible to examine how current rates in the RaleighJCary area compare to the rest of the state. For all cancers, the Raleigh/Cary incidence rate is 1% lower (includes all persons, adjusted for age). But for most radiation-sensitive cancers, incidence is higher, including thyroid cancer which is sensitive to radioactive iodine, (+27%). Other cancers of the bone and blood forming organs, sensitive to bone-seeking elements such as strontium, also exceed rates for the rest of the state (see below). This pattern should be considered unusual in an area where the rate of most cancers is similar to the state.

CANCER INCIDENCE RATE, SELECTED CANCERS, 1999-2002 RALEIGH/CARY METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA vs. OTHER NC Raleigh/CaTV MSA Other North Carolina  % Ral/Cary Cancer Cases Cases/l 00,000 Cases Cases/l 00,000 +/- Oth NC All 8030 423.7 94,935 428.4 - 1 Cancers Most Sensitive to Radiation Bone/joint 22 0.98 177 0.80 +23 Breast (F) 1458 132.3 14,790 121.5 + 9 Hodgkin's 68 2.7 551 2.5 +11 Leukemia 200 10.3 2,066 9.4 + 9 Myeloma 82 4.6 1,074 4.9 - 6 Non-Hodgkins 347 17.6 3,719 15.5 +15 Thyroid 145 6.1 1,062 4.8 +27 Other Most Common Cancers Lung 1097 61.6 15,284 68.9 - 11 Prostate (M) 1194 157.0 14,749 153.1 + 3 Colon 562 32.2 7,771 35.5 - 9 Bladder 297 17.4 4,024 18.3 - 5 Melanoma 308 14.2 3,083 13.9 + 2 Kidney/renal 215 11.2 2,689 12.1 - 7 Raleigh/Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Franklin, Johnston, and Wake Counties. Estimated 2006 population for this area is 994,551 (Franklin = 55,886, Johnston = 152,143, Wake = 786,522).

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://wonder.cdc.gov, National Association of Cancer Registries). Data not reported for the year 2000. Rates adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population.

7

Trends in mortality for all ages can also be measured. The National Cancer Institute study compared local death rates near nuclear plants to U.S. rates every five years, using the Standard MOliaIity Ratio (SMR), or local versus national. The following shows five year trends in SMR for Durham/Wake vs. the U.S. The local rate before Shearon Harris began operating was slightly above the U.S. (SMR over 1.00), and slightly below the U.S. after startup (SMR below 1.00).

CANCER MORTALITY RATE, ALL CANCERS, FIVE-YEAR PERIODS DURHAM/WAKE COUNTIES vs. U.S., 1979-2004 Wake/Durham Period Ratell 00,000 (Cases) U.S. RateIlOO,OOO SMR 1979-83 213.3 (3525) 210.3 1.014 1984-88 220.2 (4221) 214.6 1.026 1989-93 218.0 (4915) 217.4 1.003 1994-98 209.0 (5630) 209.4 0.998 1999-03 194.0 (6021) 200.6 0.967 2004 187.6 (1294) 190.4 0.985 Source: National Center for Health Statistics, http://wonder.cdc.gov, underlying cause of death. ICD-9 codes include 140.0-239.9 (1979-98), ICD-I 0 codes include COO-D48.9 (1999-04).

Discussion. The data presented in this report document a wide variation over time in radioactive emissions from Shearon Harris into the environment, and similar wide variations in the environmental concentrations of this radioactivity near the plant, and at least as far as 17 miles away. It also shows an unexpected 51% rise in child cancer mortality in Wake and Durham Counties after the reactor began operating, compared to a 29% decrease in the state and nation, as well as elevated local incidence levels of several radiosensitive cancers.

While one cannot automatically conclude there is a cause-and..:effect link between Shearon Harris emissions and local cancer rates, questions are raised by the data. The fact that no studies of local cancer rates near the plant have been conducted in its two decades of operation calls strongly for health officials to undertake such studies. These will provide important information on the operating performance of Shearon Harris, especially as federal officials consider proposals to extend the license of the existing reactor for 20 additional years to 2047 and to build two new reactors at the site are.

8

u.s. COUNTIES WITH LARGEST POPULATIONS (as of July 1,2003)

1. Los Angeles CA 9,871,506 11. Wayne MI 2,028,778

2. Cook IL 5.351,552 12. San Bernardino CA 1,859,678

3. Harris TX 3,596,086 13. Riverside CA 1,782,650

4. Maricopa AZ 3,389,260 14. King WA 1,761,411

5. Orange CA 2,957,766 15. Santa Clara CA 1,678,421

6. San Diego CA 2,930,886 16. Clark NV 1,576,541

7. Kings NY 2,472,523 17. New York NY 1,564,798

8. Dallas TX 2,284,096 18. Tarrant TX 1,559,148

9. Miami-Dade FL 2,253,362 19. Philadelphia PA 1,479,331

10. Queens NY 2,225,486 20. Middlesex MA 1,471,724 TOTAL 54,095,003 (19% of U.S.)

Source: u.S. Census Bureau, www.census.f!OV, your gateway to the 2000 census, State/County quick facts.

CANCER MORTALITY RATE, CHILDREN AGE 0-9,1988-2004 DURHAM AND WAKE COUNTY vs. 20 MOST POPULATED U.S. COUNTIES County +-

+20

+17

+11 6429309 11

-Avg.

-10

+18 13

-11 107,378 923,636 154,683 339,365 417,257851 3.89 781,868 219,135 407,864 181,698 7,624,289 1,515,515 210,449 371,405 536,172 218,162 269,367 298,727 38,696,270 298,661 425,188 168,979 236,469 244,659 327,966 3.33 3.30 2.96 465 3.38 3.80 3.49 3.61 3.53 2.89 2.93 3.08 71 3.82 3.36 234 149 Deaths 2.82 3.25 318 985 100 3.29 442 238 2.88 l"')

3.24 3.43 3.27 0-9 950-9 Deathsll 235 4387 81 223 129 138 125 181 136 190 107 21,316 Pop. %00,000

+/- U.S.

kNV codes include COO-D48.9.

http://wonder.cdc.gov, underlying cause of death. ICD-IO 9

CHANGE IN CANCER  %

+5129 1988-2004 35 33 27 20 32 19 43ChRate 30 21

-2.88 38 44 28 3.49 3.27 3.53 3.80 2.96 3.89 3.08 3.25 3.29 3.30 3.36 3.43 3.61 3.82 3.38 2.82(81) 2.89 2.93 3.33 1979-1987 (318) 5.21 4.19 (136) 4.93 (138) 5.52 (223) 4.85 4.50 (100) 557 4.69 (465)

((985) 71) 2.58 (149) 95)

(235)

(181) 4.63 4.70 (190)

(234)

(125) 4.28 (238) 5.13 (129)

(4387)

(132) 5.12 (107) 4.15 5.19 5.48 4.77 5.71 4.68 (442) 4.23 4.82 4.17 (210)

MORTALITY (295)

(130) 96)

(150) 69)

(504) 15)

(141) 52) 85)

((133)

- 30 (104) 58)

(102) 87)

(132)

(113)

(291)

(2624) 29) 4.56(13931) RATE, CHILDREN 3.24(21316) -29 AGE 0-9 codes DURHAMinclude AND COO-D48.9.

unty 1979-1987 to 1988-2004 COUNTY vs. 20 MOST POPULATED U.S. COUNTIES WAKE urce: National Center for Health Statistics, http://wonder.cdc.gov, Deaths/1 00,000underlying (Deaths)cause *of death. ICD-IO 10