ML19206B344
| ML19206B344 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/20/1979 |
| From: | Goldsmith R NRC OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905090231 | |
| Download: ML19206B344 (2) | |
Text
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s MEMO T0:
File FROM:
Robert Goldsmith
SUBJECT:
MEETIriG WITH PENNSYLVAt1IA STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 4/12/79 At the invitation of Dr. George Tokuhata (Pa. Dept. of Hedith), Robert Goldsmith (PJiSB) and Robert Purple (AD/RHSS) attended a meeting in Harris-burg, Pa. to discuss strategy for the evaluation of the health impact of the TMI incident.
The agenda and list of participants are attached.
Dr. Gordon MacLeod, Secretary of Health presided, and briefly reviewed the sequence of events occurring during the initial days of the incident.
He stated that between 50,000 and 200,000 people left the area during that time.
Thirty-eight urine samples were collected from volunteers and sent to NIH for analysis.
All exposures determined from the analyses were within background level.
The maximum exposure to the thyroid was estimated to be 5 mrem.
Dr. Tokuhata (Director, Bureau of :Hcalth Research) reviewed the overall plan and approach for the assessment of health impact.
The first step is the development of a population r2gistry including both the impact area and r control area.
Assessments will be made of both immediate and long-term er fects of radiation and/or stress.
The immediate effects to be studied include:
Reproductive behavior and outcome; fertility rates; fetal, neontal, and infant death rates; abortions; prematurity; growth and development; cardiac mortality among the aged; psychological effects; social impact (e.g., family breakup); and health care costs.
Long term effects include cancer and mental health.
Alternatives for follow-up include periodic screening, continuous monitoring of morbidity data through hospitals and cancer registries, and annual assessment of death certificate and natality data.
Mr. Cox of UHEW commented that the agency is committed to assure that there are studies of health effects.
Secretary Califano has asked the CDC to put a workplan together by the end of April.
The CDC representative (Dr.
Stein) said that the agency feels that the reported levels do not warrant study, but the CHEW is buand to collect data evea though they feel that they will not find anything.
Dr. Lundin stated that BRH will not be involved.
NIOSH is interested in collaborating, and may be able to provide some funds.
Representatises of Pennsylvania academic institutions are also interested in pa rticipc. ting.
Dr. Radford st.uted the probability of finding a positive
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effect from radiation is very low, but politically, the study must be done.
He cautioned that there would be little credibility if the Federal govern-ment did the study.
However, the Univ. of Pittsburgh would like to ao the study.
Representatives of the other universities also expressed their willingness to conduct the studies.
Potential sources of funding were discussed.
CHEW is committed to go to Congress for funds.
CDC has no funds available but would be glad to provide input to the protocols.
f;RC would require Commission approval in order to provide funds, but would like to help with the development of the scope of work and could provide dosimetry data.
The state of Pennsylvania has no funds available, but could provide some personnel.
The registry could include, depending on the level of funding, those within a 5-mile radius of the plant (50,000 people), a ten-mile radius (200,000) or some intermediate level of coverage.
The cost of developing the registry is estimated to be $2.00-$2.50 per person.
At minimum, the study would require $100,000 just to include the persons within a 5-mile radius.
These funds are required as soon as possible. Any contribution would help, particularly in order to get started while additional funding sources are investigated.
Private industry was sugcested as a possible source.
It should be noted that the DOE was not invited to the meeting, but Dr. MacLeod said they would be contacted.
In a private conversation prior to the meeting, he praised the cooperation he had received from the flRC.
h br Robert Goldsmith Radiological Health Standards Branch Office of Standards Development cc:
Minogue Smith Goller Purple Parsont Goldsmith RHSB RDG RHSB SUBJ qA 75.9 Ls J