ML19241B358
| ML19241B358 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 06/04/1979 |
| From: | Reed P NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES) |
| To: | Barrett L, Britz W, Congel F Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7907160214 | |
| Download: ML19241B358 (3) | |
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JUN 4 1979 MEMORANDUM FOR: Distribution FROM:
Phillip R. Reed Environmental Effects Research Eranch Division of Safeguards, Fuel Cycle and Environmental Research, RES
SUBJECT:
1311 IN THYROIDS AND THE THREE MILE ISLAND INCIDENT On May 14, 1979, I received a telephone call from Dr. L. Van Middlesworth of the University of Tennessee at. Memphis concerning recent results he obtained from his research program to determine 131I levels in cow, sheep and human thyroids and the relationship of these findings with the Three Mile Island nuclear incident. A follow-up conversation occured on May 16, 1979 to clarify and expan.d on several topics discussed in the initial telephone conversation.
(Dr. Van Middlesworth is funded by DOE to study global 1311 levels in animal thyroids and currently receives thyroids for analysis from slaughterhouses throuchaut the wnr He has oy
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yearsofexperienceinthisarea,and,in1958,publ)ds6ed a paper In 9n n
Nature on iodine levels in thyroids of sheep before and after the release of iodine from the Windscale nuclear accid 2nt.)
The following was discussed by Dr. Van Middlesworth:
1.
He analyzed for and detected 1311 in sheep thyroids from Bi..ingham, England from April 15 to April 30, 1979. The preliminary data indicated levels of 131I as:
a.
April 15 - less than 0.1 pCi/g b.
April 23 - 0.210.1 pCi/g c.
April 30 - 0.7 i 0.3 pCi/g 2.
No 1311 was found in 18 cattle thyroids obtained from the Philadelphia slaughterhouse. However, he indicated the cattle may have originally come from the midwcst and he had no idea how long they were penned in the Philadelphia area before being slaughtered.
3.
No 1311 was found in about 40 cattle thyroids from Memphis, Tennessee from April 12 through May 9, 1979.
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No detectable 131I was found in some 15 human thyroids from Philadelphia from April 13 to April 23, 1979.
5.
He tried to obtain thyroid samples from the Harrisburg/Middletown, Pa.
area but had little success. He sent a letter to a private citizen in the area requesting information and assistance in obtaining thyroids, but the private citizen told him no cows were being slaughtered.
6.
He prepared a short summary of his findings for publication in Science and he stated some statements were made in the paper about his research results and the Three Mile Island incident.
I asked for a copy of the preprint and he said one would be sent imediately, fkbbb l Phtllip R. Reed Environmental Effects Research Branch Division of Safeguards, Fuel Cycle and Environmental Research, RES
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Distribution - Memorandum dated dUI' F. Congel, NRR 4 1979 W. Britz, NRR L. Barrett, NRR S. Block, NRR J. Buchanan, SD H. Peterson, SD H. Collins, OSP R. DeFayette, OSP B. Weiss, IE I
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