ML19323G633

Response to Aamodt Second Set of Interrogatories.Includes Info on State 1978 Congenital Hypothyroidism Screening Program & Other Related Issues.Related Correspondence

ML19323G633
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	05/20/1980
From:	Tokuhata G PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF
To:	Aamodt AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML19323G626	List: ML19323G625 ML19323G633 ML19323G637
References
NUDOCS 8006060405
Download: ML19323G633 (2)

Text

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Docket No. 50-289 4 /

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(Three Mile Island Nuclear )' "

Station, Unit No. 1) )

M RESPONSE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA TO AAMODT INTERROGATORY (SECOND SET)

17. Regarding Response to Interrog 5, give numerical basis or other specific reasons why data collected in the last six months of 1978 "are not as good as that for 1979"? Why wouldn't comparison of six month periods be % formative?

RESPONSE

As indicated earlier, the State began a screening program (congenital '

hypothyroidism) in July, 1978.

In any public health screening program, particularly one designed for a large population, such as Pennsylvania as a whole, the initial six month period must be considered " preliminary" or " trial" during which the entire mode of operation (procedure, criteria, etc.) needs to be evaluated and tested for accuracy, completeness, reportin practice, diagnosis, and logistic problems.

For this reason, the incidence data for the initial 6-month period is not comparable to that for the follow-ing periods.

It is not possible to give any numerical basis for this view- '

point.

19.

Regarding Response to Interrog. 6, it is not clear how tMs inter-rogatory distorted Dr. Tokuhata's statement, in view of the final statement of your response:

to answer with certainty." " Questions of this type are difficult Dr. Tokuhata's statement to the press.Please explain how I have , misinterpreted

RESPONSE

My response to Interrog. 6 still stands. i I did not say "- - - - -

little confidence that such a study would be reliable." What I said

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! implies inherent methodological difficulties in most epidemiological studies.

! In particular, definitive statement on exact cause-and-effect relationship I cannot usually be made from a single epidemiological study.

i Reporting Response to Interrog. 7, what level of confidence do you 20.

have that the " dose" to the public was an accurate measure of the

dose to the women who have birtfi to the hypothyroidism cases? -

! (a) Does the " dose" you referred to, take into account j dispersal of the radiactivity through plumes?

RESPONSE

f .The " dose." to the women who have birth to the hypothyroidism cases l, was not measured directly on an individual basis during the TMI accident.

$ However, the highest " dose" (. radioactive iodine) recorded in cow's milk around the TMI area was approximately 20 picocuries per liter and in Lancaster County the level of radioactive fodine was consistently below

. MDA (. Minimum Detectable Activity), f.e. , less than 10 picocuries. At

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,- this extremely 1ow level of radiation, no significant biological conse-quence would be expected.

(.a) The answer to this question is "yes."

i AFFIDAVIT OF GEORGE X. TOKUHATA Commonwealth of Pennsylvania )

County of Dauphin )

George X. Tokuhata, Dr.P.H. , Ph.D. , being duly sworn according to

~

7 l law, deposes and says that he is Director of the Division of Epidemi-l l ological Research, Pennsylvania Department or Health, and that the informa-tion contained in Comonwealth's response to Interrogatories Nos.17,19, and 20 is true and correct to the best of his knowledge, information and belief. - u NAs ~~I~ & ~~

George ,K. Tokunata, Dr.P.H. , Ph.D.

Sworn to and subscribed Director before me this .- day Division of Epidemiological Research of April, 1980.~

Pennsylvania Department of Health M0y.y!28t14Mces,