ML20028A264
| ML20028A264 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/01/1982 |
| From: | Schwartz S NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Deyoung R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20028A259 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-82-480 NUDOCS 8211170531 | |
| Download: ML20028A264 (7) | |
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.g DEP Fil r'D: Roes J.Sniezd B. Grimes K. Perkins iSEP i
.g'f MEMORANDUM FOR:
Richard C. DeYoung Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement FROM:
Sheldon A. Schwartz, Deputy Director Division of Emergency Preparedness
SUBJECT:
MEETING WIll{ THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH This is to document the August 20, 1982 meeting with Edward N. ~Brandt, Jr.
to discuss the recent exchange of letters between HHS and NRC. Those in attendance were:
Dr. Edward N. Brandt, Jr. HHS Mr. Tom Reutershan. HHS Mr. John V111forth. HHS/FDA Dr. Bernie Schleten. HHS/FDA L_
Mr. Jack Roe, NRC Mr. Sheldon Schwartz, NRC The topics for discussion were issues relating to medical /public health liaison with NRC during an emergency as well as matters relating to the use of potassium iodide (KI) as a thyroidal blocking agent by the general 7
public to prevent the uptake of radiciodine which could result from a significant nuclear power plant accident.
Dr. Brandt stated his position that he believed that it is necessary for the NRC Executive Team to have face-to-face discussions with a senior Public Health Service (PHS) official regarding the development of protective action recommendations during an emergency. This position is stated in Dr. Brandt's May 14, 1982 letter to the Chairman.
I supported Dr. Brandts' contention that NRC/PHS needed to interact with each other during an emergency but disagreed with the notion that there had to be a senior PHS official.
I reiterated the ratioisale contained in Mr. Dircks' August 3,1982 response to Dr. Brindt and suggested that before
..any further action is taken on this issue that Dr. Brandt, or whomever he may designate, should observe the next exercise at the Operations Center.
Dr. Brandt welcomed this proposal and also suggested that his staff develop a better focused proposal for further discussion.
I indicated that the next exercise would not be for another 2 to 3 months.
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-2 With respe::t to the KI issues, Dr. Brandt is of ta2 opinion that with the endorsement and publication of the Policy Statement (attachsd) prepared by a subco::mittee of the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Coccittee (FRPCC) that the issue would be closed.
I stated that NRC was in agreement with this position and is not contemplating any further action beyond endorsement of the policy Statement.
Sheldon A. Schwartz. Deputy Director Division of Emergency Preparedness
Attachment:
As stated cc:
W. J. Dircks
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1 FEDERAL POLICY ON DISTRIBUTION OF POTASSIUM IODIDE i
j TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AROUND NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SITES FOR USE AS A THYROIDAL BLOCKING AGENT 1
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The use of potassium iodide (KI) is effective as a thyroidal blockinc acent in ;reventing the accumulation by the thyroid gland of radioi.odine which has ertered the body through inhalation or ingestion. 'The radiciodine accumulation in the thyroidal can be reduced to less than 10% of what it would be'vithout a-blocking agent by a daily oral intake of 130 milligrams of XI providing administration is started be#cre or simultaneous with the excesure to the -adiciocine and treat-ment continues for at least 43 hours4.976852e-4 days <br />0.0119 hours <br />7.109788e-5 weeks <br />1.63615e-5 months <br /> beyond tne time of tne last exccsure.
This effectiteness decreases c '.ess :har. 50 t:ccking cf -he radicicdir.e uctake if the administration of th? R: is delayed until 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> after the ingestion or inhalation.
It has been proposed th'at KI be distributed to the population surrounding all commercial nuclear power plant sites so that it could be administered in the event of an accident which results in a large airborne release of radioactivity which includes large quantities of radiciodine.
The Food and Druc Administration has evaluated the medical and radiological risks of administering KI for thyroidal.
blocking under these emergency conditions and 'has concluded that it is safe and effective and has aporoved over the counter sale of the drug for this ourcose.
Recent FDA guidance states that risks from the short term use of relatively low doses of KI for thyroidal blocking in a radiation emergency are outweighted by the risks of radioiodine induced thyroid nodules or cancer at a orojected dose to the thyroid gland of 25 REM.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have already issued guidance to State and local authorities as well as licensees of operating commercial nuclear power plants in NUREG-0654/ FEMA-REP-1, Rev. I recommending the stockpiling and distribution during emergencies of KI for thyroidal blocking to emergency workers and to institutionalized individuals 1
who might be difficult to evacuate.
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This recommendation was made because:
(1) the number of indiv uals for any site is small and requires a limited supply of KI that can be readily distributed; (2) these individuals would be more likely be exposed to a radioactive plume in the e"ent of an accident; (3) the medical histories of the limited number of such it.dividuals can be reviewed and the distribution and administration of KI readily controlled; and (4) these individuals can be readily monitored for adverse side effects by medical personnel.
This guidance on the distribution and use of KI for all commercial nuclear power plant sites is hereby Federally endorsed as a viable protective action for this limited number of individuals in the event of a catastrophic nuclear power plant accident.
It is recognized that the decision to use KI for thyroidal blocking to protect
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the public health and safety resides with the State and local health authorities.
Therefore, with the exception of the NRC licensee's personnel located onsite during the accident, the decision for use of KI during an actual emergency by all other individuals for whom the use of KI is recommended are the responsibility l
of these authorities.
In addition, because the factors bearing on the desirability of stockpiling and distributing XI for thyroidal bloct.ing of the general population within Emergency Planning Zone for the Plume Exposure Pathway (a radius of I
i approximately 10 miles around the plant) depend heavily on local conditions, 1
l this matter is a decision for State and local authoritiis to make.
In deciding i
whether to distribute and use KI for the general population, these authorities should carefully evaluate advantages and possible problems in implementing this program for the specific nuclear power plants within their jurisdiction.
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One of the considerations in deciding whether to implement the'use and distribution of KI for the general population is that. KI blocking only effectively reduces the radiation exposure of the thyroid gland.
While this is an important 1
contribution to the health and safety of the individual, it is not nearly as effective as measures which protect the' total body of the individual from radioactivity.
Both in-place sheltering and precautionary evacuations can
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reduce the exposure to the total body.
As an example, if a precautionary evacuation of the population can be instituted with little or no radiation exposure, this cay be the most effective protective action.
However, there are instances where evacuation may not be preferred.
Evacuation may be unnecessary because the amount of protection afforded by in-place sheltering is adequate to reduce exposures to values' below protective action guideline levels.
There are also possible situations when evacuation cannot be accomplished in time to prevent exposing large numbers of individuals to a significant amount of radiation during the evacuation.
In those instances where shelter is used because the evacuation cannot be completed in time to avoid a substantial radiation insult, the administration of KI could be a useful ancillary protective action which could provide some additional exposure reduction to the thyroids of the exposed individuals.
The use of KI for thyroidal blocking is not an effective means by itself for protecting individuals from an airborne release of radioactivity from a nuclear power plant accident and therefor 6 should be used in conjunction with sheltering, evacuation or other protective methods.
Other considerations and problems to be evaluated by the State and local authorities j
in deciding whether to institute this program include:
(1) whether the KI should
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4-be distributed to the population before the accident / occurs of be dist.ributed as soon as possible after the accident occcrs; (2) whether evacuation can be completed more quickly than distribution of KI for the particular nuclear
- ower olant site in question; (3) how the KI will be distributed during the emergency; (4) what medical assistance will be available to assist the individuals
..t:0 may nave some adverse reaction to XI; (5) how medical authorities will aavise the population to take KI and under what circumstances this advice will
- e given; (6) if KI is predistributed, what assumptions should be made about its availability; (7) how the authorities will provide KI to transient pupulations; and (8) whether use of other respiratory devices (e.g., dust masks) may be equally cost-effective.
In summary, the use of KI to prevent radiciodine from accufulating in the thyroid gland can be an effective ancillary protective action during a nuclear power plant accident. Whether KI should be stockpiled and distributed for the general public around a particular site depends on local conditions and a decision on its use during an emergency depends on accident and environmental conditions that may prevail at the time.
Its use should be evaluated by each State or local jurisdiction based on the specific conditions and site environment for each operating commercial nuclear power plant.
if the decision is made to use KI to protect the general population, specific plans for the distribution, admini5tration and medical assistance should be developed to assure its effectiveness.
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