ML19247B880

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Discusses C Johnson Radiation Health Effects Studies of Plutonium Releases,Published in 790413 Science & 790423 Newsweek.Nrc,Epa & Nih Found Significant Errors in Draft Copy.Second Draft Submitted for Further Comment
ML19247B880
Person / Time
Issue date: 06/11/1979
From: Goldsmith R
NRC OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
To: Harold Denton, Dircks W, Stello V
NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
TASK-OS, TASK-RH-919-8 NUDOCS 7908160095
Download: ML19247B880 (2)


Text

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w July ll, 1979 tiOTE T0:

Document Control Room 016 FROM:

Robert,Goldsmi+.h, RHSB:SD Office of Stancards Development Please place the attached document in the PDR using the following file and file points:

PDR File Related Documents (SelectOne)

(Enter if appropriH e)

Proposed Rule (PR)

ACRS Minutes No.

Reg. Guide Proposed Rule (PR)

Draft Reg. Guide Draft Reg. Guide Petition (PR!l)

Reg. Guide Effective Rule (R!l)

Petition (PPJ1)

Effective Rule (PJ1)

Federal Register t'otice SD Task flo.

RH 919-8 f;UREG Report-Contract tio.

Subject:

RHSB INFORMATION REPORT #2:

ROCKY FLATS NUCLEAR WE'4 PONS PLANT cc:

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if9082b Z7f R. B. Minogue K. R. Goller R. A. Purple M. A. Parsont

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JUL 1 1 1379 DISTRIBUTION:

W. J. Dircks, Director, NMSS H. R. Denton, Director, NRR V. Stello, Director, IE S. Levine, Director, RES H. K. Shapar, Director, ELD N. M. Haller, Director, MPA R. G. Ryan, Director, SP J. J. Fouchard, Director, OPA R. B. Minogue, Director, SD R. G. Smith, DD:SD K. R. Goller, DIR:SHSS.SD I. C. Roberts, AD:SGSS:SD P. Comella, Chief:SDSB:SD L. L. Beratan, Chief:SSSB:SD E. F. Conti, Chief:EPSB:SD R. A. Purple, AD:RHSS:SD R. E. Alexander, Chief:0HSB:SD W. B. Brown, Acting Chief:SGSB:SD M. A. Parsont, Chief:RHSB:SD G. A. Arlotto, DES :SD W. M. Morrison, AD:GES:SD W. F. Anderson, Chief:SCSB:SD E. C. Wenzinger, Chief:RSSB:SD J. A. Norberg, Chief:EMSB:SD R. M. Bernero, AD: MSS:SD K. G. Steyer, Chief:FPSSB:SD R. J. Jones, Chief:TPSB:SD PDR

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I JUL 111979 NOTE T0:

Distribution FROM:

Robert Goldsmith, RHSB:SD THRU:

Michael A. Parsont, Chief, RHSB:SD

SUBJECT:

RHSB INFORMATION REPORT #2:

ROCKY FLATS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANT A number of radiation health effects studies have been and are being undertaken in the vicinity of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, Boulder, Colorado.

This facility processes weapons grade plutonium.

Several releases of plutonium from fires at the plant and by escape from a storage area have occurred over the past 10 years or so.

These releases have led to the health effects studies on the population in the vicinity of the plant.

The April 13th issues of Science and the April 23rd issue of Newsweek reported results from a study by Dr. Carl Johnson, Chief of the Colorado Department of Public Health, on cancer incidence rates downwind from the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant.

Science magazine repaded that Dr. Johnson found elevated incidence rates in direct association with plutonium concentration mcasured in soil for cancers of the lung, nasal passages, larynx and leukemia.

Not mentioned, however, was that the report was a preliminary one and had been submitted to Science for publication, and as yet, has not received a peer review.

Newsweek reported the results of Dr. Johnson's study and also that a California-based anti-nuclear group released the report, but that Dr. Johnson "was not disturbed",

by the premature release of his paper.

It should be noted that Dr. Johnson submitted a draft copy of his report to the NRC, EPA, and NIH for comment.

All three agencies found significant statistical, epidemiological and inferential errors in the report which might conceivably have affected his results.

Dr.

Johnson has agreed to consider the agencies' comments, and has submittej another draft for comment.

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