ML070300663
| ML070300663 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 01/26/2007 |
| From: | Cuthbert L Alliance For A Clean Environment |
| To: | NRC/SECY/RAS |
| Ngbea E S | |
| References | |
| 71FR67072 00032, PRM-51-11 | |
| Download: ML070300663 (116) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:PRM-51-11 (71 FR67072) DCEE The Alliance For A Clean EnvironmentUSR 1189 Foxview Road Pottstown, PA 19465 January 29, 2007 (3:22pm) (610) 326-6433 OFFICE OF SECRETARY January 26, 2007 RULEMAKINGS AND ADJUDICATIONS STAFF Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 ATTN: SECY@nrc.gov. Phone (301) 415-1966. Fax (301) 415-1101. Submit via website http://ruleforum.llnl.gov. Subjec t: More Protective Radiation Standards - PRM-51-11 Federal Register notice http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-I MPACT/2006/November/Day-20/il19568. htm The Alliance For A Clean Environment (ACE) isa grass roots environmental group with members in the tni-county area surrounding the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. We urge NRC to approve the petition for rulemaking that would provide more protective radiation standards at older reactors. For twelve years we have been gathering evidence in an attempt to understand why there is a health crisis in communities in our area. We have documented and are attaching information on alarming elevated cancer rates in Montgomery County (home of the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant), elevated infant and neonatal mortality, and learning disabilities.
- 1. Cancer incidence increased in Montgomery County since Limerick Nuclear Power Plant went on line in the mid 1980s, for many of the kinds of cancers associated with radiation exposure, such as; Thyroid Cancer Increased by 128%, Breast Cancer 61 %, and Leukemia 48%. (1985-86 to 1996-97)
PA Cancer Registry Data
- 2. Childhood cancer deaths (ages i to 14) increased by 71 % inMontgomery County, while going down insurrounding counties, PA and the U.S. Childhood cancer rates are 92.5% higher than the national average in six communities near the nuclear plant, including one inChester and one inBerks County.
- 3. Elevated infant and neonatal mortality are far higher than the state average, and even higher than Philadelphia and Reading (according to state data).
- 4. Learning disabilities are documented to be double state increases at 94% (1990 to 2000) in Montgomery County.
Children in the shadow of Limerick Nuclear Power Plant are documented to be suffering and dying inrecord numbers. Statistics are alarming. Childhood cancer statistics are significantly higher near Limerick Nuclear Power Plant than across the state, nation, and tni-county.
> More precautionary radiation standards for fetuses and children are imperative., Children in the region of Limerick Nuclear Power Plant need and deserve radiation standards that will protect them, as do all children who are unfortunate enough to live around nuclear power plants or other sources of radiation emissions.
> NRC's radiation standards still ignore the unique vulnerability of children. Radiation regulations used by NRC are still based on the "Standard Man" (an adult healthy male).
This is irresponsible, tragic, and unacceptable. NRC radiation regulations also fail to protect women, people already sick, and the elderly. It is long past time for NRC radiation standards to be more reflective of current science and reality. i~mpttY -E(j G-7 SEC y-~
Evidence is clear and compelling that children are the ignored victims of outdated and unprotective radiation standards still used by NIRC for regulating nuclear power plants. For example:
" Since Limerick Nuclear Power Plant first went on line in the mid 1,980's, the statistics above show far higher rates of cancer, leukemia, infant and neonatal mortality. Other environmentally related illnesses have also been rising.
" *Lessons of Chernobyl show children were the most vulnerable to radiation exposure, even in small" doses, and that children exposed to radiation suffer from higher rates of certain childhood cancers, especially leukemia and thyroid cancer, and have a greater likelihood of developing breast cancer as adults.
- Dramatic increases are well documented in these same cancers (thyroid cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer) since Limerick Nuclear Power Plant first went on line in the mid 1980s.
" Increases in other childhood cancers have been found near nuclear operations in the Navaho Nation, Brookhaven, New York, and nuclear power stations in Oyster Creek, New Jersey and Clinton, Illinois.
" Increases in down syndrome are found near Yankee Rowe power station in Massachusetts.
- Studies show ionizing radiation is also linked to immune system damage, heart defects, and diabetes in children.
" Evidence shows that after closings of nuclear power plants in the U.S., infant death and childhood cancer rates are reduced.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has identified reasons children are most vulnerable. They stated that children have higher minute ventilation or a higher concentration of tiny capillaries in the lungs, leading to greater radioactivity exposure from the same amount of radioactive material. They also said children are extra sensitive to the DNA-damaging effects of radioactive energy. The cumulative weight of evidence from the three large releases of radiation (Chernobyl, TMI, and Savannah River), confirm tha~t infants and children are most sensitive to damage from low levels of ionizing radiation. (See Attachment) A Moral And Ethical Responsibility To Protect Future Generations
> Evidence of harm to fetuses and children is overwhelming. We urge NRC, the agency with the mission to protect the public from nuclear power plant radiation, to now take crucial precautionary action for more protective radiation standards that will prevent unnecessary harm to all fetuses and children around nuclear plants.
Costs of Preventable Childhood Cancer, Illness, and Disability: The Price We Pay
> Costs, both physical and financial, for unnecessary and preventable lifelong disease and disability are obviously astronomical and avoidable. Links between radiation exposure and a broad range of childhood illness, disease, and disability should no longer be disputed by anyone.
> Financial costs to owners of nuclear plants for providing more protective measures regarding
.nuclear power plant radiation releases would pale by comparison to the costs society pays for preventable childhood cancer, illness, and disability.
Since Limerick Nuclear Power Plant went on line in the mid 1980s, There Are Alarming Cancer Statistics in Montgomery County And Even Worse In Communities Near Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. (See Attachments) 2
- Alarming Increases In Many Cancers after Limerick Nuclear Power Plant went on line in Montgomery County, home of Limerick Nuclear Plant. (PA Cancer Registry Statistics)
- Cancer Death Rate (1995 to 2004) FAR Higher In 13 Townships and Boroughs Near Limerick Nuclear Power Plant, compared to the rest of Montgomery County.
- Childhood Cancer - Alarming Statistics
- 71% Increase in Childhood Cancer Deaths (Ages i to 14)- Montgomery County. 1980's to 90s - Surrounding counties, state, and nation went down
- 92.5% Above National Average - (Ages 0 to 19) 1995 to 1999 in communities close to Limerick Nuclear Power Plant - showing an upward trend from 30%
higher than the national average in the late 1980s to 60% higher in early 1990s
- Thyroid Cancer Absolutely Soared In Montgomery County since Limerick went on line.
- About 75% Higher than the U.S. Rate - 1998,1999, and 2000, Montgomery County's Thyroid Cancer Rate - Thyroid Cancer Incidence is rising across the nation which increases the significance of these shocking increases in Montgomery County.
- 128% Increase - Montgomery County 1985-86 to 1996-97 A broad range of thyroid problems have also been reported in alarming numbers.
- Thyroid Cancer Incidence in PA is highest in counties closest to the concentration of nuclear power plants, and in the predominant wind direction from them.
- Leukemia Significantly Higiher - Montgomery County and 6 borough/township area near Limerick
-40% above other parts of the tni-county area for at least 15 years - Total of 106 cases from 1985-99
- 48% Increase inMontgomery County (1985-86 to 1996-97)
- Almost double the state average (1985 to 1994).
- Breast Cancer - Significantly Higher In Montgomery County (See Attachments)
- 61% Increase - 1985-86 to 1996 Rising Incidence
-39.2% Higher - (1995-1999) Female Breast Cancer - Compared to the Nation and Tni County 6 Municipalities - 1995 to 1999, injust five years, a total of 263 women were newly diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Among young adult women the most frequently diagnosed cancer, by far, is breast cancer. Considering that breast cancer is a national epidemic, this iscause for precaution.
-Female Breast Cancer ByAg (diagnosed 1995-1 999) - Compared to the National Average Age % HIGHER than U.S.
0-29 + 15.3% 30-44 + 51.4% 45-64 + 39.3 % 65+ + 28.6%
- Breast cancer is an epidemic across the nation. There is major cause for concern when breast cancer rates in communities near Limerick Nuclear Power Plant are 51 .4% higher in young women 30 to 44, and higher in every other age group. Breast cancer links to radiation exposure are well established.
- Breast Cancer went up in the Philadelphia area after Limerick Nuclear Power Plant started, while going down when a nuclear power plant closed in San Francisco.
3
" Brain Cancer
- Almost Doubled in Montgomery County in a 5 year period - 1995 to 1999
- In Pottstown, (L-imerick Nuclear Power Plant mailing address)_.Brain Cancer Rates Are Significantly Hi-gher Than State Average Or Any Municipality Within 12 Miles.
- Brain/Central Nervous System Cancer 32.5% HIGHER than Tni-County 38.3% HIGHER than U.S.
- State data shows that Maliginant Tumors are far higher than the state avera-ge, and even far higher than Philadelphia and Reading. (See graph)
Whether radiation releases are accidental or allowed is irrelevant. Limerick Nuclear Power Plant's allowable levels of planned radiation releases from routine operations, as well as unplanned radiation releases from leaks and accidents could be a major factor in the alarming cancer and tumor increases in the areas near Limerick Nuclear Power Plant.
*The BEIR VII Report provides a link - "in BEIR VII, the cancer mortality risks for females are 37.5 percent higher. The risks for all solid tumors, like lung, breast, and kidney, liver, and other solid tumors added together are almost 50 percent greater for women than men, though there are a few specific cancers, including leukemia, for which the risk estimates for men are higher." (Summary estimates are in Table ES-i on page 28 of the BEIR VII Report prepublication copy, on the Web at hftp://books.nap.edu/books/0309091 56X/htm1/28.html.)
The broad range of nuclear power's ionizing radiation has been shown to attack many parts of the body - the thyroid, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, ovaries, bone, muscle, and skin. (See Chart)
*In Montgomery County, home of Limerick Nuclear Power Plant, in addition to alarming increases in thyroid, leukemia, and breast cancers listed above, there are other alarming cancer increases in other organs from the chart above. For example: Montgomery County Increases 1985-86 to 1996 Kidney Cancer increased 96% and Skin Cancer increased 72%.
A long list of studies by independent experts has long provided evidence that there is no safe dose of radiation so low that the risk of a malignancy is zero. (See Attachment) Massive independent research over the past 20 years provides compelling evidence that exposure to radiation at any level can increase the risk of damage to tissues, cells, and DNA, leading to risk of cancer, leukemia, birth defects, genetic mutations, reproductive disorders, cardiovascular disorders, endocrine system disorders, and immune system damage. There is evidence that specific kinds of ionizing radiation from nuclear power plants is linked to damage of specific organs in the body. (identified On Attached Chart Above)
*Many rising cancers in Montgomery County are in parts of the body (listed on the attached chart) shown as impacted by specific kinds of ionizing radiation from nuclear power plants.
NRC's Irresponsible Dismissal Of BEIR VII Conclusions Cause Lack of Trust And Harm June, 2005, the BEIR VII committee of scientists concluded no level of radiation dose is safe, yet ten months later, at an NRC annual meeting on Limerick Nuclear Power Plant in Limerick, an It is difficult to understand why NRC employees have made conclusions and statements to us which deny evidence of harm. We have encountered a casual, dismissive attitude about radiation standards and exposure risks from NRC employees. That is both unfortunate and absolutely unacceptable. It is difficult to have confidence in NRC employees who make claims which defy both science and logic. 4
NRC employee used irresponsible deception to discount the BEIR VII report. Fetuses and children are far more at risk from radiation levels permitted to be released at Limerick. Our question concerned elevated cancers, infant mortality, and other childhood disability around Limerick and their relationship to NRC's outdated, unprotective radiation standards based on the average male, not fetuses and children.
" An NRC employee claimed BEIR VII scientists did not recommend more protective standards in their June, 2005 report and therefore, current standards are protective.
Video of this inexplicable comment is available upon request. That NRC response was illogical, irresponsible, and deceptive.
- Why would the National Academy of Science report recommend any level as safe above ZERO, when their report said there is no safe level?
" The NRC employee also stated that Limerick N uclear Power Plant's radiation emissions were well below "acceptable standards", a statement he cannot prove.
-This statement ignores the BEI R VI I report claiming no level was safe.
- There is no attempt to account for the additive, cumulative, and synergistic harmful health impacts of all the kinds of radiation released from Limerick.
- Exelon, the company with a vested interest in the outcome, is doing all the monitoring, testing, and reporting. Considering what has happened at Exelon's nuclear plants in Chicago, it is difficult to have complete trust in radiation emitted into our water, air, and soil here. In addition, it appears Exelon is not required to test, monitor, or report on all the kinds of radiation associated with nuclear power plants.
- Without site specific independent and comprehensive testing of our, air, water, soil, or the bodies of our children, to know exactly how much of what kinds of radiation exposure people around Limerick are exposed to regularly (not to mention accidental releases), the NRC employee irresponsibly claimed Limerick's radiation releases were not causing a threat to our children based on levels released by Limerick.
- There are no NRC studies to show levels of radiation in the bodies of our children.
- The Radiation and Public Health Project collected teeth of children in our area to measure for Strontium-90 radiation, and found high levels of Stronitum-9O in the teeth of children around Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. See Attachments - RPHP Reports and Graphs)
" BEIR VII Report estimates the differential risk for children. For instance, the same radiation in the first year of life for boys produces three to four times the cancer risk as exposure between the ages of 20 and 50. Female infants have almost double the risk as male infants. (Table 12 D-1 and D-2, on pages 550-551 of the prepublication copy of the report, http://bocks.nap. edu/books/O3O9O91 56X/html1/550. html1). " (excerpted from http://www.ieer.org/comments/beir/beir7pressrel.html)
- To truly protect children and other vulnerable populations, NRC radiation standards should be ZERO. Exposure at any level above zero should be unacceptable to NRC based on the body of evidence of harm and the BEIR VII. Report.
> However, it is a start if NRC demands far more precautionary regulations based on recognition of the unique impacts of radiation exposure to vulnerable populations, especially children. Clearly, more protective radiation standards are long overdue and crucial for the future health of our children.
5
>Inexplicably, to date, NRC failed to provide more protective radiation standards that would be more precautionary of children, fetuses, and the more vulnerable such as those already sick. Harm from radiation exposure at any level can no longer be disputed and should NOT be denied or ignored by NRC.
Ignoring and/or denying the reality continues to unnecessarily jeopardize the public, especially fetuses, children, and those already sick.
> Hopefully, with more protective regulations, NRC employees will start to take radiation exposure more seriously and make more responsible comments and decisions regarding radiation health impacts to the public, especially fetuses and children.
Protecting The Public From Radiation Emissions Into Their Air, Water, Soil, And Bodies From Routine Releases and Accidental Radiation Releases At Nuclear Power Plants Should Be A Moral And Ethical Obligation For NRC Necessary Actions For Protecting The Most Vulnerable Populations In NRC Radiation Standards
- 1. Protect the most vulnerable by accounting for more vulnerable populations in NRC standards.
- 2. Recognize "allowable" levels are not safe. NRC's "allowable" levels of radionuclides are NOT conservative or protective enough for vulnerable fetuses, growing infants and children, the elderly, and those in poor health. They are based only on the obsolete
.'standard man", a healthy, white male. They also ignore women, who are, according to the BEIR VII Report, 37- 50%. more vulnerable than standard man to the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
- 3. Consider radiation damage from inhaling or ingesting radionuclides. NRC does not consider the effects of internal radiation from ingested or inhaled alpha and beta emitters.
The amount of polonium-210 that recently killed a former Russian intelligence officer was inaccurately considered by IAEA and NRC to be of the lowest possible risk because NRC failed to account for internal radiation damage.
- 4. Recognize there is no safe dose. Further, regarding low dose radiation, the BEIR VII panel has concluded, "It is unlikely that a threshold exists for the induction of cancers...
Further, there are extensive data on radiation-induced transmissible mutations in mice and other organisms. There is therefore no logical reason to believe that humans would be immune to this sort of harm."
- 5. Recognize that the public is exposed to additive, cumulative, and synergistic radiation doses, far greater than the exposure threat from just one dose of one kind of radiation at a time as evaluated under current standards. Evidence suggests the public can no longer afford to accept radiation standards which are based on illusion. It is long past time to stop ignoring the magnitude of the potential health impacts from additive, cumulative, and synergistic doses of all radiation exposures, especially to those who are unfortunate enough to live around nuclear power plants.
- 6. NRC should protect all members of the public from all types of excess radiation exposure from nuclear power and its fuel cycle, gamma, alpha, beta, neutron, particulate, fission products, noble gases, etc. and that measurement and monitoring should include all forms and pathways, not just gamma at the fence line.
6
- 7. NRC should recognize that low levels of radiation exposure over time can be just as harmful as one high level dose, and make more responsible decisions to immediately warn the public based on any radiation release above normal.
- 8. Radiation limits should include accidental nuclear power plant releases, as well as the planned everyday radiation emissions from routine operations.
- 9. Recognize that it is far more costly to the public, than it is for the nuclear industry, if NRC allows nuclear power plants to avoid spending what is necessary to provide all available filtering and monitoring technologies for their radiation emissions into our air, water, soil, and eventually our bodies.
- 10. Recognize that prevention is key, due to the fact that some radionuclides that are released into the air, water, and soil and their by-products can continue to damage human health for millions of years. Costs for more protective filtering and monitoring technologies pale by comparison to public's costs if NRC fails to require available prevention technologies. NRC should not succumb to the nuclear industry's quest to reduce economic costs, including deferring maintenance which can increase the radiation released - and the risks. For what are the true costs to the public if NRC fails to take more protective action now?
Petitioner's Request ACE commends and is thankful that the petitioner is requesting NRC to prepare a rulemaking that will require that the NRC reconcile its generic environmental impact statement for nuclear power plant operating license renewal applications with current scientific understanding of the health risks of low-level radiation, including but not limited to those discussed in the National Academy of Sciences Health Risks From Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VII Phase 2 Report.
*However, we urge NRC to require more protective radiation standards for all older nuclear power plants to protect fetuses, children, the elderly, and those already sick around Limerick Nuclear Power Plant and others.
For A Safer Healthier Future ACE URGES NRC To Exercise Precaution We appreciate this opportunity to provide NRC with comments. We hope that as NRC Commissioners you will consider each of our comments, as though your children and grandchildren or other family members were living in the shadow of Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. Please send a written response to: ACE President, Dr. Lewis Cuthbert P.O. Box 3063 Stowe, PA 19464 7
LSýEqY - ACE COMMENTS - TIVE RADIATION STANDARDS Page 1 Page ljj LSECYAGE COMMENTS - MORE PROTECThIE RADIATION STANDARDS From: "AceActivists @Comcast. net" <AceActivists @Comcast. net> To: 'NRC Secretary" <SECY@nrc.gov.> Date: Mon, Jan 29, 2007 8:28 AM
Subject:
ACE COMMENTS - MORE PROTECTIVE RADIATION STANDARDS To: NRC Secretary Please review and consider ACE attached comments and requests for more
,protective radiation standards - PRM-51 -11 The attachments that are referred to in our comments will be provided in hard copy by mail.
Thank You, Dr. Lewis Cuthbert President Alliance For A Clean Environment (610) 326-6433
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ACE COMMENTS - MORE PROTECTIVE RADIATION STANDARDS Creation Date Mon, Jan 29, 2007 8:27 AM From: "Ae~tvt@Comcast.net" <AceActivists @Comcast.net> Created By: .AceActivists @Comcast.net Recipients nrc.gov. SECY (NRC Secretary) Post Office Route nrc.gov. Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 326 Monday, January 29, 2007 8:27 AM TEXT.htm 2858 BackGmd-jpg 1431 imstp-jisal .gif 18861 NRC Secretary - Rulemeking - More Protective Radiation Standards 1-07.doc 114688 Mime.822 190827 Options Expiration Date: None Priority: Standard ReplyRequested: No Return Notification: None Concealed
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RADIATION-NO SAFE DOSE WASHINGTON - June 29, 2005 A new report from: The National Academies' JTHE NATIONAL ACADEMIES National .' ,*A t*J J, S ,V ,* *,,, Research , . *, . ,,, . ,*, , , Council says:
"A preponderance of scientific evidence shows that.
even low doses of ionizing radiation are likely to pose some risk of adverse health effects." Specifically, the committee's thorough review of available biological and biophysical data supports a "linear, no-threshold" (LNT) risk model, which says that the smallest dose of low-level ionizing radiation has the potential to cause an increase in health risks to humans. In the past, some researchers have argued that the LNT model exaggerates adverse health effects, while others have said that it underestimates the harm. The preponderance of evidence supports the LNT model, this new report says. "The scientific research base shows that there is no threshold of exposure below which low levels of ionizing radiation can be demonstrated to be harmless or beneficial," said committee chair Richard R. Monson, associate dean for professional education and professor of epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston. The study committee defined low doses as those ranging from nearly zero to about 100 millisievert (mSv)
"The health risks - particularly the development of solid cancers in organs
- rise proportionally with exposure. At low doses of radiation, the risk of inducing solid cancers is very small. As the overall lifetime exposure increases, so does the risk." The report is the seventh in a series on the biological effects of ionizing radiation. The report was sponsored by the U.S. departments of Defense, Energy, and Homeland Security, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The National Research Council is the principal operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. It is a private, nonprofit institution-that provides science and technology advice under a congressional charter.
RADIATION NO SAFE DOSE "There is no safe level of exposure and there is no dose of radiation so low that the risk of a malignancy is zero"--Dr. Karl Z. Morgan, dubbed the father of Health Physics. 1 "...there is no safe level of exposure to ionising radiation, and the search for quanitifying such a safe level is in vain."-Rosalie Bertell, PhD.2 In 1940, several members of the US Committee on X-Ray and Radium Protection "proposed that the [radiation exposure] standard be lowered by a factor of five in response to the accumulating evidence that ANY amount of radiation, no matter how small, can cause genetic damage, injuring future generations." Gioacchino Failla argued against the lowering of the standards saying that "if genetic damage were to be a consideration for standard-setters, then logically no radiation exposure should be allowed."3
"...the human epidemiological evidence establishes-by any reasonable standard of proof-that there is no safe dose or dose-rate.. .the safe-dose hypothesis is not merely implausible-it is disproven." Dr. J.W. Gofman 4 "One thing we should take from this (1991 study of Oak Ridge weapons workers by Steve Wing, et al.) is that there isn't any safe level of radiation exposure..."
Dr. Carl Shy 5.
"The reanalysis (of Hanford worker data) provides no support for the idea that... there is reduced cancer effectiveness of radiation at low dose levels..." Drs. G.W. Kneale and A.
Stewart 6.
"There is evidence that single tracks of all types of ionizing radiation can induce a variety of damage including DNA double-strand breaks which are believed to be critical lesions in radiation exposure. There is also a body of experimental evidence that argues against an error-free DNA repair system operating at low doses of ionizing radiation that might result in a dose threshold for the induction of gene and chromosomal mutations." MP Little and CR Muirhead.7 "An important feature of alpha irradiation is that, no matter how low the total dose to the whole body, a substantial dose of radiation (approx. .5 Gy) is delivered to an individual cell if it is traversed by a single alpha particle." E Wright 8.
Compiled by Cindy Folkers, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, 1424 16th Street NW Suite 404 Washington, DC 20036; 202-328-0002; nirsnet(a~nirs.org website www.nirs.org
Works Cited: 1..."Cancer and low level ionizing radiation" The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. September 1978. 2.....No Immediate Danger?Prognosisfor a RadioactiveEarth. Women's Educational Press, Toronto, Ontario. 1985: 45. isbn 0-88961-092-4 3 Caufield, Catherine. Multiple Exposures: Chronicles of the RadiationAge. Harper and Row, New York. 1989: 48. isbn 0-06-015900-6. 4.. .Radiation-InducedCancerfrom Low-Dose Exposure: An Independent Analysis. Committee for Nuclear Responsibility, Inc. 1990:18-16, 18-18. Isbn 0-932682-89-8. 5 Garloch, Karen. "Repeated low radiation doses hike leukemia risk, UNC study finds." The Charlotte Observer.Wednesday, March 20, 1991. 6 ..."Reanalysis of Hanford Data: 1944-1986 Deaths. "American Journalof Industrial Medicine. 23:371-389 (1993). 7..."Curvilinearity in the Dose-Response Curve for Cancer in Japanese*Atomic Bomb Survivors." Environmental Health Perspectives. 105 (6): 1505. (1997) 8..."Chromosomal instability in the descendants of unirradiated surviving cells after alpha particle irradiation." Proc.Natl..Acad. Sci. USA. 95: 5730 (1998).
INCREASING CANCER. RATE.S In Montg'omery County Home Of LIMERI.CK. N.U,.CLEAR. POW.ER -PLA.NT
ALARMING Montgomery County CANCER STATISTICS Source: Pennsylvania State Cancer Registry - From 1985-86 To 1996-97 Largest Increases In Newly-Diagnosed Cases Occurred For The Following Cancers:
- Prostate Increased 132%
- Thyroid Increased 128%
- Kidney Increased 96%
- Multiple Myeloma Increased 91%
- Hodgkin's Disease Increased 67%
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 61%
" Breast. Increased 61% " Pancreas Increased 54 % " Leukemia Increased 48%
Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Is Located In Montgomery County It Releases Radioactive Gases And Liquids Into The Air, Water, and Soil Durinq Everyday Routine Operations
Alarming Statistics Deaths from Neoplasms in Children Ages 1 to 14 1981-89 vs. 1990-98 CDC Website Childhood Cancer Montgomery County + 71% Increase Childhood Cancer Deaths in Montgomery County are UP, while DOWN in neighboring counties, PA, and the US Chester County 29.0% Decrease Berks County 30.6% Decrease Pennsylvania - 17.1% Decrease U.S. - 21. 2% Decrease Children Are The Barometers Of Our Society These Facts Should Serve As A WARNING Montgomery County is the home of the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant which first went on line in the mid 1980's. Radiation emitted from the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant could be a Maior Factor in increased childhood cancer deaths in Montgombry County. The Chernobyl experience confirmed a valuable lesson: Children are by far the most vulnerable to radiation exposure, even in relatively small doses. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children are extra sensitive to the DNA-damaging effects of radioactive energy. The Alliance For A Clean Environment (610) 326-6433
CHILDHOOD CANCER 92.5 % ABOVE (Ages 0-19) All Cancers Diagnosed from 1995-1999 Pottstown, West Pottsgrove, Lower Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgove, North Coventry, Douglass Berks Township Almost 100% Higher Than State &Tri County Averages Other PENNSYLVANIA - 2.9 % BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE Other TRI COUNTY (Montgomery., Berks, Chester) w 0.8 % BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE Major Types of Cancer in Children - Compared With U.S. Rate 1990-1999 Rate 'per 100,000 Type of Cancer Cases 0-19 Gr. Pottstown U.S. %AboveU.S. Significance All Cancers 40 28.33 16.04 + 76.6 p<.02 Leukemia 13 9.21 3.89 +136.8 p<.055 Brain/Central Nervous Sys. 7 4.96 2.98 + 66.4 Kidney/Renal Pelvis 5 3.54 0.73 +384.9 p<.09 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 4 2.83 1.04 +172.1 All other 11 (Source: PA Cancer Registry) Note: Rates calculated using 1990-99 annual Greater Pottstown population 0-19 of 14,120. For example, leukemia rate = 13 cases/lO years/14,120 x 100,000 = 9.21. Joseph Mangano, MPH, MBA Radiation and Public Health Project New York, NY June 25, 2003
) Rates are MUCH HIGHER for FOUR of the CANCERS most common in children.
> Rates are SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER for ALL CANCERS and LEUKEMIA
> Rates are BORDERLINE SIGNIFICANT for KIDNEY/RENAL PELVIS.
Half Of Childhood Can*cers Above Are Leukemia and Brain/CentralNervous System Cancers Both have been associatedwith radiationexposure. UPWARD TREND Late 1980's about 30 % HIGHER than the NATIONAL AVERAGE Early 1990's about 60% HIGHER than the NATIONAL AVERAGE Late 1990's up to 92.5 % HIGHER than the-NATIONAL AVERAGE Late 1990's almost 100 %,HIGHER than the STATE and TRI COUNTY Nationwide, cancer is ,the #1 disease-related death in children. All children are exposed to similar environmental pollutants, including pesticidds and herbicides, cleaning chemicals, mold, second hand smoke, vehicle emissions, and'even gendtifactoris. .Logic suggests that when major cancer causing pollution soburces are i-dded facto*rs to overall.common causes for cancer in children, rates will be far higher. Limerick Nuclear Power Plant's Routine Radiation Emissions And Accidental Radiation Emissions Into The Air, Water, and Soil Are Logically A Major Factor In Why Childhood Cancer Rates Have Increased So Dramatically In Communities Listed Above
It's not surprisingthat childhood cancerrates in this area have skyrocketed above the national,state, and tri county averages.
- 1. A CDC report confirmed vast numbers of chemicals in the bodies of people.
- 2. The Radiation and Public Health Project confirmed that children in this region have high levels of Strontium-90 radiation in their teeth. This study, while only looking for one kind of radiation in our children, Strontium-90, it confirms that the radiation released at Limerick Nuclear Power plant is getting into the bodies of children in the area.
Stronitum-90 is not'a naturally occurring radiation.
- 3. March, 2003, EPA reported that fetuses and children under two are the most vulnerable to certain -cancer causing-and mutagenic chemicals (10 times more vulnerable). Children 3 toW15 are 3 tirnes more.vulnerable. The youngest in society are most susceptible to the
-effects of radiation.
- 4. Developing fetuses, infants, and children are most susceptible to the harmful effects of
-radiation. Childhood cancer is a key indicator of impacts. Pregnant women in this region, and then their newborn babies are exposed to the routine and accidental radiation releases from Limerick Nuclear Power plant.
- 5. When babies are born with toxic chemicals in their bodies, then exposed daily through their lungs, skin, and eyes to an additive, cumulative, and synergistic combinations of toxic chemicals, including the most damaging, radiation, the harmful impacts we have uncovered should not be surprising.
- 6. Skyrocketing childhood cancer rates are not the only sign that Limerick Nuclear Power
-
Plant's routine and accidental radiation emissions may have had harmful impacts on our region's fetuses and children, as evidenced by: Documented:
" Elevated infant and neonatal mortality at rates far higher than the state average, and even higher than Philadelphia and Reading.
/ Learning disability increases at rates twice the state average (1990 to 2000)
Beyond the unbearable suffering of children and their families as a result of children Cancers and .ifelongdisabilities, there2 are" astronomical financial costs. Those astronomical costs for unnecessary environmentally linked disease and disability in our children can and must-be prevented with a political will to require the necessary precautionary measures. Unnecessary toxic exposure can and must be prevented, especially for the radiation releases from routine operations and accidents at nuclear power plants. Alliance For A Clean Environment (610) 326-6433
Embargoed until .1p.m., April 14, 2005 Contact Joseph Mangano 484-948-7965 CHILD CANCER SOARS IN MONTGOMERY, PHIILADELPHIIA COUNTIES RISING RADIATION FROM LIMERICK NUCLEAR PLANT MAY BE CAUSE Limerick PA, April 14; 2005"- Rates of leukemia and other cancers in Montgomery and Philadelphia County children have soared. since 1990.,. when national rates, are either unchanged or declining, according to a new report presented today. The unusual increase may be due to airborne radioactive"emissioin from the Limeric l r plant entering children's bodies. A study of Strontium-90 (a chemnical found only in nuclear weapons and reactors) found local rites rose 26 % from the late 1980s to the early/mid 1990s, "Infants and children suffer most from radiation exposure," says Joseph Mangano, National Coordinator of the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPPHP) research group, and author of both the cancer and tooth studies. "Higher local levels of Sr-90 and childhood cancer after Limerick began operations must be taken seriously by plant operators. and regulators." " Limerick,. a plant with two reactors, began operations in December 1984 and reached full capacity in January 1990. During the early years of operation, cancer and leukemia death rates for children under age 15 in both Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties were wellbelow the national rate. But in the post-staftup period (1991-2002), cancer mortality jumped 48.0% and 22.3%, respectively, compared to a national decline of -20.3%. For leukemia deaths, rates rose 16.0% and .46;4%, compared to a national decline of -27.6%. Montgomeryand Philadelphia counties lie southeast of Limerick, which is the downwind direction for much of the year. RPH{P collected 150 baby teeth from Pennsylvania. children as part of a national study of over 4,000 baby "teeth. In medical journal -articles, RPHP -found that Pennsylvania had the highest average Sr-90 in teeth of any of the six states with significant numbers of teeth; and that the Limerick's average was highest near seven nuclear plants. studied, especially in the Pottstown area, where Limerick is located. Since 1998, Limerick's reactors have operated over 96% of the time, raising' concerns whether an aging plant may be releasing more harmful radioactivity into the enyironment.. Data were made available on the day that U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials held a public meeting with Exelon, which operates the Limerick plnt, to assess its 2004 performance. High local sates of cancer include'adults as iwell as children.. Of the 60 most populated U.S. counties, Philadelphia has the highest'age-adjusted"can*cer death, rate' both .for whites and blacks, from the period 1997-2002. About 4,000 Philadelphia residents die of cancer each year. -
according to the World IHealh. concentration of Thn canilaies in sifzatlon. W~ee. "most probably the hings. Tm-- leads ta gre-ate LESSONS LEAR.N-ED soiely att-ibutable to this smgle jadioactivity exposare from the Fort-onately, scentist have not- release of mdioacdtiw to the en- ame- amount of radioactive imate. -ad mnch oppor-taitýr to stady the ;omne*t ý.Sipificandy, none of . *Second, chidrten aTe extra sea-ffects, of a nuclear emeraency on thes6 areas made potassium iodide. sive to the ' -hg effects iman beings. Nuclear weapons widely ava-labte. of radioactive energy. Fmally, chil-rove been used onl twice, agaist Following the Cheemobyl melt- dren are more likely thn adults to
&ebple,in liroshima and Nagasald. down, Poland bnm*ediately distribut-
[apan, near the end of the Wor.ld ed 17 mfid6n doses of potissin n due to a radiation disaster.' iJat IL There have been only a .iodid6; midu<ncn 10 miiLio- lo cM-aanudf of -fuclear reactor melk- dren. This was the first time scien- GUIDEIhOES FOR. iowns, and omly one that released- ,tists had .an -opportunity -td: stady PROTECTION le-adly levels of -radioacdtiv energy.`: -theside effects of potassimfn iodide It occmu-red i* .tApij1986-,at a nucle- in a large population. The news Fortunately, adults. and childrn
ýr reactor in C-ernobyL, UlJraine. was encouraging, side effects were who are given pota-s.-,, iodide iay clinically insignif icant 6! be .completely pxotezted fLrm 2mergency large enough. to threat- Awful as it was, the Che;nobyi radioiodine. A-cording to th6 en the health and weTihbeing of nmu- experience confimed- -rvaiuabi- Federal Re-dster,. "potassi-nm iodide
[ions of peopl6.-Duiing that catas- 'Ies.den-are by far the most. should be stockpiled and dis*t*ied. trophe,,one of thF main reactors ef vanerable to iadiatioa exposure, to emergency workers and mmum, e, poawer plamt-malted dqwn, leveI.in relativelyrsimazY'doses.' tionalized persons for radiologdica teleasing-.an esdmated 120 m C*ildren zxposed to radiation suf-. emergencies at a nuclear power
*tes oa radioactive mateial. The " fer from higher rates of certain plant and its use should be consid-qnpndm*w l was heavily con- childhood cancers, esv'ecialiv ered for the general publi wirinu mmmied with plnininm and leukemia and thyroid cancer, and, the 10-mle eImergeny panmin-g.
ceshunyas well as with dangeroaus have a greater likelihood of devel- zone of a nuclear power plant-"4
,e~eis of radi.active iodine, 9ping-breast cancer as adduts.7 Sipgnficantly, however, this is Uhbtinrttly, r:.rar2Lf 0 ,deafs-peatýr vulnerability only a recommendation- The fmal SMre *-laete-tS of lamd were to radiation exposure is attfoutable decision to. stockpile potassium.
dontiated, -ad about. 135,000 to several factors, according to iodide.. has been left to state mnd peoplewea pema.nety evacuaed.d the Amencam kAcademy of local governments. Although the Experts later estimated that 17 N.RC has made free doses available miHOA people were exposed to , e minute.Firtfladrn oae hight- -,to local go'Vernments,, a significant e=cs radiadBlon, -including 2.3 mu-Hum- rinf-irca- living in. eastern RisýKsckithem. Bela-. s, and nbwthtmUran At frst, scietimsts did not appre-ciate the threat posed by high kveTs of radioiodiEn released during the meltdown. It did not take long, however, to start.seeing the effe-Cts. hthin fo7- ye=, there was a sharp spike in. thei -inideuce o th.*-'rid cancer2 This iniacease occurrei in cbfzidr- who had
,-ecewed less than 30-resma oi 15 years more than 1,000 cases ou t-_ir6id cancer had been repo~rrc ina th afftectd area, a 3C to 6C*
Thyroid Cancer 1985-86 to 1996-97 Montgromery County's Rising Cancer Incidence Shows A 128% Increase 1998,1999, and 2000, Montgomery County'S Thyroid Cancer Rate Is About 75% Hinher Than the U.S. Rate (which is also rising). The Greater Pottstown rate'for 1995-1999 is 6.0, Just higher than the U.S. rate of 5.9, but lower than the county rate. Thyroid Cancer Rates Have Absolutely Soared In Montgomery County Home Of The Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Since The Mid 1980's. Limerick NuclearPower PlantIs Likely A' MAJOR Factor, Specifically Radioactive Iodine ParticlesEmitted From Limerick. Radiation Emitted From The Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Is'Breathed In And&Can Also Be Ingested In Milk And Water. The two Limerick reactors stafted,-in- 1984 and 1989,l tcan take years between exposure and diagnosis of canceri.: So thei rise after. 1995 is not a surprise - This was found in other areas such as eastern Connhetic'ut, near the-Millstone plant. Within four years of the Chernobyl: accident there was a@sharp spike in the.incidcenceo0f'thyroid cancer. All of the cases, according the World Health Organiiation, were "most probably solely attributable to the release of radioactivit*yto theenvirorment." -
-This is::evidene in a, scienfic sense, Since thrid cancer: it, still rTelativkel Yrare.
THYROID CANCER INCIDENCE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY MONT. ADJ RATE CASES US RATE 1985 2.7 19 4.5 1986 5.1 38 4.6 1987 5.9 43 4.3 1988 3.2 27 4.3 1989 3.6 31 4.6 1990 3.6 31 4.7 1991 4.5 37 4.7 1992 5.7 46 5.1 19935.5 454.8. 1994 4.8 41 5.3 1995 4.9 42 5.5 1996 7.3 62 5.6 19977.4685.9 1998 10.4 93 6.0 - 1999 12.3 107 6.3 2000 10.1 89 6.5
THYROID CANCER INCIDENCE, BY STATE 1999-2002 Expressed in"Cases per 100,000 population, adjusted to 2000 U.S. Standard Includes 38states plus DC. Source:. http://wonder.cdc.gov - 12-10 2-PA - MT R1 DE - NV SC AL OK AR NC
THYROID CANCER INCIDENCE, U.S.. 1975-2003, Expressed in cases per 100,000 population Adjusted to the.2000 U.S. standard population 10
'75 '85 '95 '03
1997 -2003 THYROID CANCER INCIDENCE RATE BY PA COUNTY (Adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Standard Population) Highest (rate > 10.2 per I00,000 pop.)
Leukemia Montgomery County 1985.86 to 1996-97 up 48% Source: PA Cancer Registry Statistics From 1985 to 1994 West, Upper, Lower Pottsgroves, Pottstown, North Coventry, Douglass Berks Township Leukemia was almost DOUBLE The State Average Source: PA Cancer Registry Data Low-Level Radiation Is Linked With Leukemia Since 1985 Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Released Radiation Into The Air, Water, Soil Every Day Durinq Routine Operations
In Europe Leukemia 4n 2,606iE erall, about one eh~liu develops leni-famiay Thgp of IS. The can-eer -whkidi ffects the tissue.s that linkedjo lowievel That sugtested to the re-searchez that eventhe low.*evels generate hlood cemls In the hone marrow and lymph system, Is atail.for about three .- ut of four
,DT --
raitatin peopý& ace: eixposedlia radiation tw everyda-s., -ch of ituaturally oecun-ig in. food, water and the infats who get the disease.
-iAmong epiderniolvests, the.
dangers of .low radiation doses
.k-[,Ienut ~cont*r~i~b* lo,an-from such: sources as X-rays and natural radon gas are greaf-y dis-
~hngto raidW Sis W Stufdieseo chfldren enpoe&
t Ohemcbyl fb~llout, while In there en T' etover w pul*ed. . Some refearehtws poimnt out that thee is little diret Informa-levels vf .exposure,' -said mne-bf DRboutIdw-dosei caa file. the wm asho aeleatl1ev- health e1Tifts' cit ij-f*'dilation laigelyl', los ;auffbik Ilivad lyed fori n s~uded ~mog Popmn hav ben catr reveUAO lealu-notmn tfns exposed Lo'high levels, such The study, publizheA hi the as sumvirs of the W-rsthima and NEW 'Toflt - For ute firs journat Nature, is the flrt I*nma--" Ragasalk atnuie bombs :. time, researchers have' detected tcon.,.lenk rte lhhaviei
. -T--he:,sudyiitected additional elevated lei-ke-mi rateM!n on!,
chudren w e epose ti u lust~at~howas:e '~odto. Cher-fillouit fium ti hro have .fe4i ele ated. ints Ut thy- nobyl's. r'aTdlaii, , but when-nd-lear poatr,tatanug dist oing Bablkisto ivd after the faloiut questions ahout the. ,effeUeb at thraieaiu a 13, milln 6iet-d maddisipaed#ad 110 increased everyday, low-leiel radaton on inciden.e' of leukin-hia.. Neither dreRhornIn q(keae-edarlmng ,the di*d ehflden - -who were exposed Infant leuk~eiiaite. ricimare 1OBfik' Aimn 1hos bor Ai the -as In, ant or duritg thke lad tbian doublied among, (reek tdfil- mo*nths.after -.Chernobyl- the re- -stagesof pregnancy. dren wbho-were exposed totine searihers funmmd.
- chiDiren in I Only intat *ho were exposed nlucleair -power. Planets Fall-out partrf Gree.e eiposed to the during th ieearly stages of feta white in the early tages, of preg- fallout 'were ~U~.~x~-more.Ukely developmentsuffered leukenia at runcy,, accordhig -to a study -re to s~ffer from leukemia than tncreased levels, the study found.
leased Thukrsday. their mmnexpo1se'd zU.nrp~a~rl Based on- Lhat fmndfig. the The radlation Jexp*os*ur -A . Radatonexposure-Iit ree-e researheýr.-sugesed the radia-Gredce was onTy. UP to five times. ws mudit lower tMUM in reglons tion- may have. cused genetic higher than what G-eeks_ normal- cSe to -the .arccde*t, ,hirh damage -dur!ng.the jtkaleal'~rly-ly, would have rereived In*Ute octurredi near he Uiam city st.ageso-pregeancy -that ted k year after the aecidenL tit Elif the leukemia. -
Environmental Health Monthly Vol. 5 No. 3 Dece-mber, 1992 ABSTRACT EffituriatI Revii Bo: ~rd Cormnentaiyby Steve WrIn& PhDand CarlShy, MD, Dr. Pf1, .Universiyof North CarolinaSchool of Public Health. It bs well I-nown tha t ionizring rad~ir a n~iveg-rannrr rineca~ Ienen thvrn~id liuna i'sncI rT1-rnsru in heavilv vAz f,gosed iersons. , 'But in this ,study,, workers at the (Cl k Ridge National Lboratory were.not highly exposed; their average exp .sures were hardly Juuu.rsGlugrar. 11. 10).
,IL above usual background levels ofionizing radiation. Ti- death rates of these
- workers for cancers and for all causes comnbined was below thie national
*SC -t : However, their leuke iJa death rate was slightly elevated (63%above average); this finding is significant because lelrni-' nF nns- fhC St*i,-*n,*]
n "ChicaigoILD. n- r:r- , nd i,~v
. ,rmi~nabmrlitinn 'Ofgreater significance is that workers' who were exposed to.Mightly greater levels of ionizing radiatiOn showed bight death rate. from mllcancers Jcobined as well as from leukemia comPared IQ CA e* ý.rexprosed workers and the riskof .-cancer increased with the amiount of ridiation received at the work place. Furthermore, the radiation 'induced fain .-cancers didiot. appear until35 years bor more after the iaboratory was. first:
op tened suggesting that there-is a longdelay between first exposures to low l.,level radiation and the manife.tation of excess cancer deaths. Vi.: 'Cain these results be directly applied to ionizing radiation frommedical orto workersin the nuclear.P1ower industry? The simplest answeris: possibly,
.;:but we don'tknow. Some workersat the Oak Ridge.National Laboratoy were Ior 'simultaneously'exposed to other ciancerrisk factors, such ,s #tobaccosmoking, alcohol, chemical solvents ind reagents -sunlight, and some cormponents of
ýVA' dieL Their life style, Rivi stahdards.and work experkieces differ trom those of-'Otler population groups exposed to ionizing radiatin. Although our analysis contolled for:some- of these variables to the extcnt that there was information about Other.can:er risk factors, any ejIdenii0-gical study-of prolonged low level radiation isrsubject"to uncertaiities, due to lack ofcom-plete information on all reievant factors and to problemsin: measuring ex-...
in i LevCVC Sklc~ ne ?1pr *posure to radiation its te[CL Until these iesults are confriled in other studies of
,orkers exposed to prolonged low level radiation, wi can not*answer tie q.estion about"the direct j* i1cability of these'results to other exposed per-sons. However, this study, o0ng with other evidence,, opens to question the, eisting standards oc ational exposure to ion izinrgradiation, since out of
.8.OO annual dose: readingsfor work:ers at the Labo ratory, ondy 135 ever.
excieeded the presentoccupational standard. The emereenceee in.creasin in thistaito asaa ttern of increas-n xour;, Qo the Stronger *s.-,soci-,t-onwittiradia'tion received decades ago than with recent doses, the specificit'; of the association with cancer rather than with other causes of death and the observation of an overall excess of leukemia deaths compared with the general population, all are consistent with a real low dose radiation effecL Thisextosed rns, cnkr~rn t low that 5oulations 1v I our results may be applicable to other Mrih~n tin Uis, crucie ,that epidermiologica studies o other occupationall exposed populations be Conducted to- address theuluftimat iimplipations of this study. Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes, Inc. P.O. Box 6806, Falls Church, Virginia 22040 (7031 237-C-HW
BREAST CANCER Links Between Radiation Exposure And Breast CancerAre Compelling. Limerick NuclearPower Plants Routine andAccidental RadiationEmissions Are Logically A MajorFactorIn Breast CancerDataDocumented Below. - Montgomery Counti 1985-86to 1996 Risig Incidence 61% Increase Source: PA State Cancer Registry Statistics: Joseph Mangano, MPH MBA National Coordinator RPHP (610) 666-2985 Compared to the Nation and Tri County 6 Municipalities - All Within 5 Miles Of Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. Lower Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgrove, West Pottsgrove, Pottstown, North Coventry, Douglass Berks SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER 1995-1999 Local Rate per 100,000 % Above % Above Type of Cancer Cases Gr. Potts. U.S. Oth. 3 Co. U.S. Tri County Breast (female) 263 161.5 116.0 129.8 +39.2 %1 +24.5 % Breast Cancer By Age (diagnosed 1995-1999) - Compared to the National Average g._% HIGHER than U.S. 0 -29 +15.3% 30-44 +51.4% 45-,:64 +39.3% 65+ ' 28.6 % 1995 to 1999, in just five years, a total of 263 women were newly diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the co.mmpnities listed above. Among young adult women the most'frequently diagnosed cancer, by far, is breast cancer. Sources:. Pennsylvania State Cancer Registry, National Cancer Institute (cancer cases) 1995 to 1999. U.S. Census Bureau (population data), Statistics: .Jodseph Mangano, MPH, MBA: National Coordinator RPHP (610).666-2985 Breast Cancer IS AnwEpidemic Acrdss The Nation. There is major cause for concern when breast cancer rates in women 30-44 in this area are 51.4% higher than the national average and higher in every age group.
BBREAST CANCER 'EATHS WOMEN OVER' 65 SAN FRANCISCO AND PHILADELPHIA l9go--1997
* - "AV -*
iTo z 140 0O I
~~~I~~rC~rw 'ý xi
-Li Z1O A CLOSEDP
- -. . . . .. . , -- -.-. ,.
_ . " .. I AGCIDNT. 10SA N 19
-!98*.182 984 1086 Tc8 19l19 1994 1996
B.REAST CANCER C[-HAN-S FA-N.CISCO AND PMI E LP1k 19890-97 The chart-c of breast can~er mortaity rare per~li0 00 women over 65 in-the cities of San Francisco-and Phil adeltphia for the petiod 19?,D to 1997 represents the dhtoineof -an enormous unintended human experiment as to the effe.- of small mleases of radiqa4ýtive nuclear fission pr6ducts from commercial nuclear pla at presently p~rrntted amount o the air and water. As shown i" this chart, the two cities had the same risingabreast cancer mortality Te between 1980 and 1986, the year that týe only nuclear reactor, Raucho Secao, was skut dowa because of an accident IM December 1985, while the Limerick UnitI reicor began commercial operation near Philadelphia in 'February 1996 in Potttown, a. itmdwtin to, jainumbe r of qthier reactors already operating, within 70 miles of Philadelphia. However it its seen that w.ttiinjustafe- years after 1986 the mortality rates began to diverge sharply, with the deatas in.San Francisco declining while those in Philade$ a rose sharply, the gap wideng st iy until by i997 the mortality rate in Philadelphia exceededihat in San Francisco by nEarly 70% ... The ofnly .pssible causaI f mtor foir breast cancer that is kpnoww;t.oiave siddenly changed, is that of. man-made -radiationprOdneedby fission products tele diil..'tW*.tocal air and watet All theI ordinary dhernical poi'ntants such Cs. pesticides, herbicides, dioxdtt, PCB., automobile exhaust, ci'garette sioAke`-aB fne partienates in the air did noksuddenly d-sappear in San Franisdo and . inerease in PhiladlIiainjusto to fOtu., yea&*s..Z N6-* iit .liely.that medical factors such as the iwse of munxn~gaphT)Y c e~dn~nop~t itosi the two cities, or tha~t the availabifity of medical i-eatmenlfk orbreast cancer sýharply dec'1ined in Pbiladqe phia while it rose suddenly., S~anFra-neisco at e-xactl.y te sametiesth minsffsselad from local nuclear plants changed.- C'early, suchfactors as genetic doi".fionor developing breast cance'r could not have changed so rapidly, or such known lf e-se factos ais the number of childrenl66ora t6 these women and the time they breast-fed their.newborns;'since all th)ewomen represenee- in the chart were over 65 years of age at death, " On the othier hand, a tapid rise in breast cancr*rmortality tooklplace in Wes-tchester, N*Y, 66eeni 1975 and 1979, when, the indian Point Nuclear Ptant Units URand III went into operation in:tK .t county, while th e rate for New York Oty declined from a p6Ak in 1978. a the dity's drinkdi.ng ter supply Was increasingly changed from the Croton River wareshed -l i Westchester tfl t distant headwaters of the Delaware River to the west as describe i6m the intermational Journal of Heal"th Services,.Voiume 23, No. 4, pages 7 ,i.. - .,,99. : The reaseh why the deaths changid so rapidly after changes in tlieexposare to-fissiaprodncts as compared to many years whe" the exp~suire is due to.X-rys or gamma rays from a nuclear .. vweapon explosioni is the foli6vi~ng; RV-esearch.within the last few'decades has shown that low dose exposures.. protracted overlong ped6d&bf timie as co mi "ed to-brief exposures from a short. diagnostic X-ay or a flash of radiation from a iuclear detonation prodce muchI grealer cell ular - damage per doseabsotedby'nitA factors as large as ten to h.thousand times, depending on the degree of prdtraction-. Mordover-, releases from nuclear weapons or.reactors involve many different radiation emitting elements that concentrate itik'y organ, while e'jemal niadoa exposures do not do.so-.Pa.rticu!ry !ri6ni- ýe the bope, seeking elements c.hemically srar to.calcium, su.b a~s Strntir.i-9, a..rum-140, Ptoniuin-239, or Lead--21O. The short range aeectrns a alpha jarticle reach 10.te Aheiainaro ragwecr nartielestc ilmda cir thell, oAe a.:w..where they darnage the wbite cells of the immune system ( e t:e t car bab ia v iruses Thsisthe m6st -inerableindividualýswho ard' already suffeing frocncer r nfeious disaes whn tefison *roductsrii~alor" ingested wil bften.die within a short time after e sue, iiiing the rapid cg n th mortaity rates of the womewover 65-se~en for the two cities ts riported by.te Center.for Disease Control on its web-site cdc~gov 1wondir from which ths data was obtained,
Brain/Central Hervous System
~Cancer Area 'vs. Tri Countyand U.S.
Includes Lower Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsigrove, West Pottsgrove, Pottstoivn, North Coventry, Douglass Berks. Other 3 Counties referto remaining areas of Berks, Chester, and Moptgomery Counties Incidence Rates - Greater Pottstown Area (adjusted incidence rates per 100,000 pop., from 1995-99): Area EXCEEDS Tri-county + 32.5%. u.s. + 38.3% Greater Pottstown (23 cases) = 8.3 Other tri-county = 6.2 U.S. (12 states/metro areas) = 6.0 At one time, the local rate was, not high but now it is. Historical Statistics on Brain/Central Nervous System Greater Pottstown Area - Around Pottstown Landfill 1985-89 15 cases 19 cases 1995-99 23 cases Childhood Cancer has increased in similar numbers The numbet ofcchildhood (0-19) cancer cases are 1985-89 15 cdases " 1990-94 18 cases 1995-99 22 cases - Almost exactly the. same!!!!. Statistics803:. J6seph..Mahgaio, MPHý 'MBA National Coordinator RPHP (718) 857-9825
Brain Cancer, Source: PENN State - Graduate Student Research Statistics: PA Department of health, Bureau of Health Statistics (2001, August) Analysis of cancer incidence in PA counties 1994-1998 http://www.health.sate.pa.us/stats Professor - Dr. Steven Couch - (717) 948-6036 MONTGOMERY COUNTY BRAIN CANCER ALMOST DOUBLED IN ONLY 5 YEARS. (1995 to 1999) Montgomery County Brain Cancer 1995 5.80 per 100,000 1999 10.08 per 100,000 1999 Brain Cancer Statistics (Ages 15 and above) Tr! County Area Cases per 100,000 Montgomery County 73 10.08 Berks County 35 9.77 Chester County 22 5.12 Montgomery County has the HIGHEST RATE of BRAIN CANCER by a large margin compared to: U.S., PA, and Tioga County in PA (a less polluted county for comparison) POTTSTOWN
.BRAIN CANCER IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER than state and national averages and SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER than any municipality within a 12 mile radius.
Municipality-level statistics can not account for the high numbers of brain cancers in Pottstown. 1999 Brain Cancer Statistics - Rate per 100,000 in Pottstown 9.25
CANCER DEATH RATE 1995-2004 13 Townships and Boroughs Near Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Limerick Schwenksville Trappe Collegeville Royersford Lower Pottsgrove Upper Pottsgrove West Pottsgrove Pottstown Pennsburg Perkiomen. Compared To Montgomery County BY AGE GROUP,
CANCER DEATH RATE, 1995-2..004 13 Townships and Boroughs Closest to Limerick nuclear plant
%..Area Exceeds Other Moqtgomerqy C.un~ty' *4.%Area E:xceeds <-
0-29 30-39 40-49. 50-59 60-69 70+
Exposure To Radiation Increases Risk Of Damage To:
- 1. Tissues
- 2. Cells.-
- 3. DNA Radiation Exposure Potentially Causes:
Programmed Cell Death (apoptosis) Radiation Exposure Increases Risk Of:
- 1. Cancer
- 2. Leukemia
- 3. Birth Defects
- 4. Genetic Mutations,
- 5. Reproductive Disorders
- 6. Immune Disorders
- 7. 'Cardiovascular Disorders
- 8. Endocrine System Disorders
--NUCLEAR POWER'S IONIZING RAD JATION radn-222 (an-d whole body) alpha, 3.8 days TIYOJD iodine-131 uraniumý-233 (and bone)
. alpha, 162,000 yrs.
.p~utoni..-239 (and bone) beta (gamma), 8 days "al!1a,24,DOyrs.
krypton-85 (and - bet. (gamma), 10 yrs.
-KIN-sulnur-35.
- -beta', 7 days cobat-60 beta (gamma),.5 yrs-yTr The eprductveOrgans er.
attacked b~y Al radoioaiv'e iso-topes emitting gammxaLradiation. ri addition, the deidl~ytntonm-- 7 70: alha,.1620yrs. alp um-239.is knowhn t6 conceittrate zinc-6S in fhe gonads. The radiation it beta (gammxna, 245 days emits can cause birth defects, stron-tiu.i"-90 muta-tions. aqd miscarriages in -beta, -23 Yrs. tjhgrsta.ndi 7atio'ni. orRosure. zifter ey succeasi-gen yttiriuin-90
- beta, 64 hrs,
-" iodine-13g . promethium-14-7
""n
. . ... "g-* s days *cobaRLO beta,, 7.. yrs.
gaxmma. 5 yrs. barium-440 betz (gamma), .3 days krypton,85 gz.mm.a, 10 yrs. thorium-234
.r ha~iiima,1-yr. beta; 2421 days phosphorus-3n
.zinc-6.5
.. '..g~n ma,.24 -da-y.so. bet.a, 14 day.s
.
carb.on-14 (and fat) bariiM-14Q -beta, 5,600 yrs.
. gamma, 13 da.ys potassium-42
. gamma, 12 hrs.
cesifm-137 gamma, 30 yrs. 'The times listed next to the plutoni*Mr 239 type'of ray emitted are the S""a~pha,24,0Ooyrs. -. half-lives: how long it- takes for half of'the radioactive'mat*rial to break down. LIUCLiE.i potasssum-42 -
"beta, (gamma), 12. hrs-.
cesium-137 (and'gonads) beta (gamma), 3Wyrs.
APRIL 17,200O ForHome Dellvery,.call 610 - 970.45O0
-. i- Ii I. ".. a~
s cancer a nuclear plant fl0lout? k,,[ Researcher asks NRC to study health of people living near sites It would be Irresponsible, By Evan Brandt Holding a press conference Thursday tistics that he said may not prove con-Joseph Mangano said, to ebmndtfpottmeried.oom - morning, hours before the Nuclear clusIvely that nuclear power plants a 0e Ignore the fact. that the. PO17STOWN - The fact that Re*glatory Commission's. annual per. causing cancer, but are certainly alarr L. rate for ohlldhood cancers In the area around the Llmerlck~piant was below Philadelphia m rnet
,
County has the highest Aith ,atA ,p"th. gn r .. ,,. lated counties in the nation as well as the
. _.
-- ,k Nucleua's Limerick Generating Station n,
-tl St n wnilcn Iollowed that evening, Joseph Margno said he is trying to sound a lngenough to wrrant further studya ere are a few of thiose statistics:
- The Environmental Protection Agency's nearest radiation monitoring
,the national average nation's largest concentration of nuclear
- ,before the plant was built: power plants within 90 miles should not station IsIn Wilmington, Del.
Mangano, who heads the controver- From 2000 to 2003 of level of radia-and Is now above the be dismissed as a coincidence, .a sial Radiation and Public Health national-average. researcher argued this past week. Project, came armed with a fistful of sta. (See NUCLEAR PLAMrS on A3)
. (~~-, .
Th, N!,,,,,y hVtp:/w*wiv.pottsrnerc.corn Sunday, April 17, 2005 1 A3
- l In i a CalMonia comm iM, the project.found a-A.'M* :.-,
cent increase in strontium-90 levels when comparig baby [
-teeth from the time before-a nuclear plant was built to after it was put on line, he said. .
Then there are the.cancer rates - leukemiain partic-ofnudlear p qw-_n ?: ular. Nationally, cancer. 'rates are falling, but not in pla.ts Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, said Mangano.. . While rate of leukemia deaths has dropped 21.6 percent I nationally,.- it has -umped by 46.4 percent in Piladeiphia and 16 percent in -dntgomery County; according to fip* i-Researcher asks NRC to, study ure§ from the U.S. Centefs for Disease Control su1p-ied-i
.by Mangano. "-
Since the late 1980s, leukemia incidences in: . l.r - health of people living near sites under 15 has soared almost 30 percent in MOiOzii County and almost 50 percent in Philadelphia, vhiie- it
.. I-(NICLAR PLNTRS fromAl) . has dropped by 0.7 percent nationally. I Of the 60 most populated counties, whic .:epresent, tion measured in precipitation at the station rose by 15.2. one third of the .entire nation's population, PbThdthia '
percent over measurements taken -in the early 1990s, Sranks-highest in cancer deaths. . " Mangano said at. a Thursday press conference at .Look, I am-not saying we have e-Adence that there is 2-a Montgomery County Community College's West Campus direct link here, there are many factors that g-,oitans- I in Pottstown. ing cancers - income, health.inurance, genetics, behaav-. The period of increase coincides roughly with the time ior," said Mangano.- the Limerick Plant has been running at close to 100 per- "What I am saying is we must consider these low doses. cent capacity, which beggai around 1998. of radiation exposure as one possfible factorn . . .
- A chemical called strontium-90 does not occur in It would be irresponsible, Mangano said, toign*e th, nature and is produced only by nuclear fission reactions, fact that the rate for childhood cancers in the ar d..-..:n like those that power nuclear plants. This chemical Sthe Limerick plant.lwas below the -national avrgebf "eI behaves in the body like calcium and attaches itself to the plant was built and is now above the national*a*i ege,:4 -.
bone. The NRC and nucl industry argue that tihe low0 sis -
. As a cause of cancer, it damages cells behaving "like a of radiation produced. by nuclear power plants,.`are-not .
wild bull in a China shop," said Mangano, and tends to harmful. Create cancer more often in children, whose cells ate more But the government"has argued this in. fth past, vulnerable to damage, Mangano said, and subiequentiy been proven wrong... In. the 1950s and 1960s, a study by the Washington He said for years, the government argued thatdhe-iow. University School of Medicine in St Louis measured the. level of radiation to which workers who built nuc ea . level of strontium-90 in 320,000 baby teeth to conclude weapons were exposed posed no health risk. that radiation from above-ground nuclear tests was slowly But in 2000, the Department of Energy comneded.;.s, owe poisoning Americans and giving them cancer.. . workershad suffered fromcancer in large numbers.etb f: That eventually led to the 1963 treaty banning above- - low level exposure: . grounid nuclear tests and within five years, the level of" The nuclear bomb tests in Nevada were called safes.by strontium-90 in baby teeth dropped by half, he said. . the government unfil t&e baby teeth study. - It rose again with the advent -of nuclear power, said .In 1997, the National Cancer Center concde.tht L-Mangano, whose Tooth Fairy Project has similarly been 212,000 Americans had contracted thyroid cane a-
- a
.
collecting baby teeth - 4,400 so far -. and has found in- result.of those bomb tests. . them a rise in strontium-90. "There is an assumption by the industry and govern- 1
' Of those teeth, 600 were from Long Island, N.Y where ment that low levels -of radiation are harmiess, but-i.- V Mangano's first studies were done. don'think that assumption is grounded in-2 foat-
- So far, he has received 100 teeth from Pennsylvania res- ence," Mangano said.. -
idents, and the 37 of them that were from the 19464 and Rather than criticizing the projec s methodoy;i i as. . 19465 zip codes had the highest level 6f strontium-90 of has done -in an eight-page crtique on its Web si, all the Pennsylvania samples, he said. Mangano acknowledged the criticism - a rather lengthy NRC should be looking at the results and considering an in-depth study of its own and more stringent "gfa-ion 0: 4 one is posted on the NRC Web site - thatlhe should hot on nuclear plaits, Mangano said . . .: . -. be drawing conclusions from such small samples, saying This is particularly germane when considerip jtha i% - he is seeking more sampleg every day. EPA just last month issued a new set of gidelines f :r:- But Mangoa argued. that.even the small samples -show assessing risk thatindicate children are three-ties ini*
- the same strontlum-90 tends he found in the'larger sam-ple of 600 on Long Island.
He also said the project has received,40teeth fronýa l .--ren who. 4etet
--x-.i pthe Phl iippes .whichhas ne~** ,.
plant-, and stroatium-90 levels
.in thoae-I2 suscptile o te ngative effects of himn hrnci and infants 10 times *mor susceptible, Mangan",said.
"We would: hope'fhe'yVwuld be as concerneq. *--et*
- these results as we ar6nnd decide to take actionand eith.er' be partners.with us; or start-teir own studies, rather than
.-
.-
teeh- e~jlfthose he has studied from Th United just practice denial," he said. ,
WISE NC: EXPOSURE TO 'SAFE RADIATION' LEVELS: SIX TIMES MORE CANC... Page 1 of 2 published by WISE News Communique on September 26, 1997 Exposure to a safe radiation" levels: Six times more. cancer Low doses of radiationhave been proven to kill. A landmark epidemiologicalstudy has recently been released on the Rocketdyne. facility-at Santa Susana near Los Angeles. Employees exposed to radiation , below the' national standardshave a six-to-eight times greatercancer risk than previous studies had found. (478.4747) WISE Amsterdam - Nearly a third of all the nuclear workers who have died.sincebeing.: exposed to doses of radiation deemed safe by the US government at the rocket engine testing facili/ty died from cancer. The epidemiological study, released on September 12 and funded by the US Department of Energy, found workers exposed to low doses of radiation had a cancer risk of at least six to eight times greater than previous studies had -found. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), reviewed medical and personnel records for 4,563 empl6yees monitored for radiation between 1950 and 1993. Researchers did not examine the employees. Rocketdyne'officials stressedthat employees have never been exposed to radiation levels above the national limit -- which is currently 50 millisieverts a year. The UCLA researchers claimed some of the workers'who died of cancer were exposed to radiation far below these standards. Cancer deaths were more strongly linked to radiation exposure than found in previous studies. The study's Oversight Pariel identified:
" Cancer deaths were attributable to doses substantially below US standards.
" The risk of "low-dose" radiation was at least six to eight times greater than risks previously assumed.
" Older adults are more atriskfrom radiation for all cancers.
The Oversight Panel has thus recommended:-. K That current limits for radiation'exposure be reconsidered by all regulatory and advisory bodies responsible for radiation protection.
- Regulators should take age into consideration when establishing new standards of exposure.
Rocketdyne engineers designed, built and tested, early rocket engines for nuclear missiles and went on to produce nearlyeverye rocket engine usedw in the tuS space missions, from. Mercury to the space shuttle. Rocketdyne also did nuclear researchron a contraCt basis for the Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Energy' betweenwthe`19"50s and-*thhe:'gB90s. In 1956, a Rocketdyne division called Atomics International began running a series onu4lear . test reactors, a fuel-handling.facility, and other radiation experiments. The work continiied 4`.through a::ser4es of nuclear spills, mishaps and even a partial fuel meltdown. in 1959 -- unti l thi firm!s- hot a1b-"f6r harrdling fuel was closed in 1989. At about that time, .activists began cailing for health studies on workers: and peoplewho lived nearby.
RACHEL.S.HAZARDOUS WASTE NEWS #185 Providing news and resources to the Movement for:;Environmental Justice -"June 13, 1990 HUA 3The'most Radin-P~t 3R FRO"LOW-EVELEXP E of 9i,2 pl compelling who s1u evidenice:thecomes atomic from studiesof bombings H FROM LOWaLEVEL EXPOSURE HroshARM Hima a Ngsakig in Japanhin 1945' Contrary
-t popular beriefmost of ese survivorsreceived only Te -federal goviernment is proposing to allow large very Wex -irs to io zingradiation.
g Their health uate oflow -level radioactive wastes tobe de- has been continuously monitored by internatioal, scl-darednon-radioactive ('btelow regulatory 'concern," or entif, o i On, so te represent the best avail, BRC is,Iirprase for it; -se RN #1 hs able biformation kn the effects of low levels of ionizig radioactive wastes would then be handled like ordinary -itaioi on- humans. The bomb survivor data now house -k trash; they would -be trasportd tandfilled,
- s wto doubt that there*is no safe dose' of in:inrat, reused (for example, radioactive toolS)' or raiation and, further e, that the lbWest doses have qeo 4(for example, radioactive metals) Wong. With t great cncer i es -per.it of raa-e hng else we discari each day. *Such a change . ';:(n- Ter ivords
. -the shape of !he de--respnse would expose Americans randomly to more onOng curve-.ps ua-iri e WN#184.) Thi- means radiationrthan they are exposed to today. Government u .atbt he industry assumption (threshold teory)
Ar indust*y both argue that this is acceptable.. In- and the EP's assumption :(linear theory fsousl ds s one justification, government uses another. nd6&es atfth6m dangers from xposure to low levels Many-pple in the nuclearindustry argue that small `4nizing radition. Fuir , the dapanuee data incr*ea 'ionizing radiationr aren't dangerous -at alL irea anolherimporrtant.fact about low-Wei,el rdiation: heyargue that there is a threshold dose of radiation, . . hg (chl!dren..r. infats) are more en-bel which no effects ýccur, and above which. people sitiveto6 the effects of low*Ls of i ng radiation mayrbe- harmed (see"RHVN #t84.. -They say the td h il not-expose 6BR-pgam.wilanyone t a doseaof a el a at r me. radiation greater than the threshold dose, and there- ' e':we will dicuss more recent hua data fore the BRC program will cause no harm. id y accidents th!a age afmounts of
*....`GoVeienm appro
.aches-he-atter differently. The ionig-radiation at Chemobyl.(Soviet Union, 1986).
--U.S 'Enironmental Prottn Ageny (EPA) argues l'land.(Pes ia, U.S.A., Uee4- 1979), and that liat ount.of riation causes damage to
.ome a -0((, (Gergia, U.S.., 1970). These acci-
.a lte popuRlation ofxo mviduai, theyxsib6 dents :r-the"suject of adsdddng new bopc Jay
.ctb: to 'ine-a teoryf .ofra~diation d~amage (see IGO*d and Be. Golkn, Deadly Deceitied in our
" W.184).Thy hve set limits for radiation exs paragri .. Page numbers si parenthses in osur bIad on:Ihe .moral premise that 4t is accep- .our tex.refe. tolhis book. Liethe Japanese bomb table to kill one citizen out of every 100,000 tzens suriIdta these thre accidents indicate that the by, exposing them to radiation. Since the BRG pro- lowest doses of ionizing radiation cause t greatest
,gram- will",not -cause exposures that would-kill more d. B pet W*'L.-r-. of radiation This provides than one in every-100,000 citzens (and the rconear ."confirma. '-otat the menrs estimate of the hai-tells
-- -them that in reality, the program Will kil -r.s..f-w-e... rat... isow..
at is to say. today's manry.. wer -people than, -e in every '100000), th . lmitfo n eosure iofe tosanz.trdiy-government argues that the BRO program is accep- lion will allow more deaths than our government offL-table: because it will save biilions of dollars fo tc dilly admts. How many more is the question Bomb ril.apw er .-industry (which must soon dismantle
- s*urviv. dat idiate 30 times me b n thi aging tea* 'reactors and pu~t the way" sY *: ;m - be lowa according to Gould and Goldman.
where) a.d for the government itself (which must' The three accidental, releases of large quantities of eventually-dean up millions of pounds of radioactive :- racriation also confirm what the bomb survivor data are
'contamination lying around near weapons factories). -i- wi-ng: that infants and children are the most sensi-Unfortunately, there is now very substantial evi- tive to damage from. low levels of ionizing radiation.
dence., from studies of human.beings exposed to radi- -Considerthese facts: ation, that both. industry and the government have "The Chemobyl nuclear power plant blew up on misunderstood (intentionally or not)the dangers of low April 26, 1986; nine days later, radioactivity monitoring levels of ionizing radiation. .(By "low levels" we mean stations in Washington state (9,000' dles from Cher-within the range 0 to 5 rem [centi-Sievertl.)
mmobyi1 detected radioactivity in rainalL. By May 16th, the entire U.S. and over the southeastern stlates taken so EA nroning stations detected radioactive idie- a a wh0le. During the ollowing summer (May 131 ncow's milk all across the U.S. Our government through September) infant morality in South Carolina said -no problem. Now government data, analyzed by was 15% higher than it had been the previous year.
-Gould -and Goldman, -show that -in May, 1986, there Again, we are omitting awealth of deeail.
was a 53%increase in-the U.S. death rate,- compared ":March 28, 1979, a mreltdown at the Three Mile - to the previous year; the chances are less than one in Island (TMl) nuclear power plant spewed more than. 10
-a thosand.",at this-.inctease occurred by.chance. millionofCuries of radioactivity into the environment, During June.1888, the infantmortalit rate in the U.S. most it into the air. Bacause the radiaton dis-w's.1 his ofrthe W it hd been thanicountry inJune, 1985, and persed quickl, most-pe e re e onlylow vels of exposure. Government andinustry* spskespope
- ,.s*ne i was much hier; for e.ixampli south Atlantic states, the- infant mar- have ruepatedly a thetpublic than no one was 1illty'rte inJ*une, 1986, was 28% higher than it had hm~:ed. Hwve r,-hegovernment's own healthdat
*bee 't p* io ye. Based onriths, and on much tell quite a differentsry. -.Comparing the period three addition evi 'hawe havent space-to review, ' mo-th prior tothe .accident against th *ro four
."Gould andGoldmansuggest that currentrEPA+limis on . mo s after. -the. accident, Pennsylvania:s infat mar_-
.exwui t lowlevel radiation maypedtobe tight- ra*.ticreased 16% and the state of Mairiyands
.ta'ty,:
eic hby as muchas"afactor of1 000 (pg. 21).j incnqased..41%0. All together, Gould and Soloman
- ii November and again in December, 1970, two calclat that perhaps as -many as 50,000 deaths nucear-rod me 'ownsicr atthe SavannahRiv er -occrr.ediduring 1980-1982 as a result of the TMI
'i* te,*.:weapons plant in Geobrgia. The plant never was ac . 63).
operatedor the government Lby: DuPont, who T:. is is an important boo. Any individual fact in rt*ld th.piibli anyhing abou these accidents until --the bookiay be disputed,.u the c ulativeweight Si lJohn Genn,.g Dupont officials in public th e eof nce is persuasive. And th6ough.we gen-hearings late.1988. To this day, DuPnt claims that -erally do n*t-give much credence to conspiracy thec-rio .`.ti*oe*sca*ped oude the -plant, but official ties,,if.you, read this book from cover t cover, you will gvn t esiurem ents of radioactivity in rain., have;dfcty believing tat your ofgovernment is telling rough thetsoutheasternUS.. reveal highly suspi- t full truthab*-o.t he effects low-level radiation. c io ases ii im a aflter th accidents. In We .suggeqthatyou-act prudenly to protect yourself t Calinah a in December, 1970, rain caried six - andyou'6 fily:-,dp Whmtever it takes to keep BRC mesas much. radioactivity as, it had carried in De- wastesout of your.community,.
- ebr, 199 Radioactivity was also measurable- in fish; fih-inthe l".aI fradi- aSanah river ontained ,, Get: JA;ay:$ Gould and Benjamin A Gold an, Deadly atinleves 10.0,000 times ihrta fish sold inNew VetLwLvlRdain, HighLew9 Cwr-af(e yoik Oil in"+197i Ac itio id ate'114 poundof cat- _Y Four Walls.Eight Windows Press [PO. Box 548, 46h"o the Savannah River 1n 1971 would hive jfdlage.Station, New York, NY 100141, 1990). $19.95' r a"radiato dose. t to 20 dit X-peq u P+Oth Rin*,1616; raym. W, unfan mortalit t y22in South Carolina Jan ary in Sen
, afe(NI,. p . umlearNW, Wasington 1tnfo0ine D-20036; 2-02R a the Radiac Wasde Cam-24 whiher 197, thantthdb~raya emli6 ýpwign "M !`loadiw.y. 2nd loo,' -New York NY W0it incontrast, infant. mortaity decline thtmot ver(2)47-30 Ra-ts. Lizmbs .WasteNewAs is published. weely by Evrorinental Resarhfwudahon, iP.O Box 3541. Princeton, NJ 0-543.
'Eitor:P~ete(Ur)onagu, -Ph.D.; AsoaaEdtor: Maria B. P6llerano; -Assistant Editor. Anrette Eubank msubs*=-os:Abigal Men, OffceMaagr.SlciptioCT n rates: $40, per, year oridvulsadczgopsi. $80fs goermentnagaries, $5frsuet aria samirs, $400 for businesseis and profesionas, InCanada a~d. Mexioj. add $4.00;kin all ofthercounis. ad$1100' -A lEIýa S I U.S.funds. Prinedon 100% Recdad PApr
.- *,*'...................- I
-~SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM FIRST-CLASSWMAL PD. Box 3541, -, U;S. POSTAGE PAID P~inraton, NJ Poný No. 434 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED' Addrms I
TO
-- + + .,*
State and Zr: .... - I
THE BIOLOGICAL HAZARD OF LOW-LEVEL COBALT-60 AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE CHEIlCALS RELEASED tNTO THE ENIRONMENT . Rently published studies. of thehealthe sf low levels of radioacivity far below presently pemttedilirruts disch..rged intq te en.vironment have' indcatdta chronic. long-a.sting .exposus they pru-.ce. -ppear-to e-thou"san*d*of tie ,," .re serious per unit dose rthan the short exposuresto X-yS or gamma rays from -nuniear exposon on the bas~is'of whic the presen1t atndaidswereset This has recently been found for infa.nt mortality ithe fir'st: Mmoath df life by Dr. R. K. Whyte in an article published in The British M6-ldil Journal of Febray .1992 , and by Drs. J. M Gould and E. J. Sterrglass in the Intearti'onal Journal of Health-Services on. October,,25,- 1993 for the case of breast cancer.-These latest large-scale studies indicate that inrhied or-ingested radioactiv inidals relea*ed by bomb-tests an'dby, iuale*a
- reactorsat
- Ieo *ose'of l6y a fewwi**'iIds *p -ya welbelow'tlevels of natralb~akgrun raiaton.daage tne immu11 ytem far miore seiou~sly thnthe
- naturallyoccurrng radiu/m-,: cosmýicraii'iatiooi or:meica X9-tays&.-ATh -reason-is that the man-made radioactive chemicals like Cobalt-60, Iron-59, Strontium-90 and Iodin&'129. o'r 131 emit.powerful beta rays that give much larger doses to critical organs in which they concentrate than:the cossmic rays or X-rays that irradiate the body uniformly. Moreover, naturallyouring radium produces short-range alpha particles that largely remn'tpped in the bone where dium concentrates, while the long-range beta particles -reable1t6 reach the bone marrow where the crucial cells of the.immune system are formed.c It has now been established that the very low.dose-rate radiation produced by radioactive chemicals, released into the environment acts predominantly by producing'so-called free-radicals that become increasingly efficient in destroying-cell-membranes of the immune-system that develop in the bone-marrow and the thymus gland as the dose-rate is reduced.
As a result, the ability of the body to fight infections and to destroy tumor cells is impaired, and infants are born prematurely and have a much greater risk of dying from all causes or surviving with -reduced immune system function and brain damage. Cobalt-60 is used by the body in place. ofon-radi.oactive cobalt to produce vitamin B-12, essential for the proper function of the nervous system. lrorn59 and 60 are taken up by blood-celL in place of non-radioacfive iron, and.strontium-90 which is chemically similar to calcium concentrates in bone, irradiating.the marrrow and thus damaging the immune defenses 8f the body. The data o 'D'r.*W-hyte indicate that an extra 320,.00 baby deaths in the U.S. and Great
.Britain were* robably caused b*y"the lobw doses from bomb tests between 1950 and 1980.
The study"ofGould and Sternglass indicates that the breast cancer mortality across the U.S. in. the nine census regions is now higly correlated with the officially published-releases; of radioactive chemicals from nuclear reactors. Furthermore, the incidence-of low birth~eight in the most sensitive poor population in New York between. 1972 and J985 rose and declined three times in direct relation to the airborne releases of 4adioactivivity from the Indian Point Nuclear Plant located in Westchester County near
the water reservoirs that store the drinking water for Westchester and New York City, and it showed the same form of the dose- response curve as observed fQr breast cancer. An examination of the breast cancer mortality rates for the areas around.S yricuse and RochesterwNew York, :shows the same*anomalous pattern of recent Changesas for New York City and nearby Westchester. hn all these areas, breast cancer ratte ý-cined or remain-d unchangd in.-the. inner* citi during the 1,g0s, but rose in the nearby county where the. nuclear reactors were located. Thus. Onondaga County where Syracusetis . locted d'eclined12%- fromthe high of 23..oper hndred hou**ipoiuation i 1978-80r. to 20.2 in 1986,88, while Qswego County contai'ning the patrc and Nine-Mite Point nuclear plants rbse 33%.from 133 to 17.7. lnthe case of Rohesteirlocated*in Monrot - County there was no chaiige in-this time period but in neaiby Waynetd Cuty where the Ginna plant operates only 16 miles to the east, thebbreastnc deat rate rose 58% in: just 8 years from a low of 12.0 to a high of 18.9 per hundred thousand., And in all-these cases, the average extemal gamna doise f6r-6t6 population cilculte 6by ihe _Cwithin a 50 mile radius was'less than one pre&nt of the background g ray dose. - Thues, allowing sewage sludge containn low levels br long-lived tissioiProducts to be spread over.:reas where Winds can caus .radioactiVeparticles to be inhaled or igest.ed with -contaminated fod ;or water cann:o lbonger m prctc- i be"igardi as* an accepta. the lightof the. findings, even thoh the doses may be far below those presently-- - permitted.,- E.J. Sterglas . .Present address: Professor Emeritus ;Of Radi6logy 170West End Ave- 27 H Januar'y 4, 1994 NewYotk, NY 10023 Tel :212-362-4334.1-A,_,
ELEVATED INFANT: MORT-ALITY AND "SHOCKING" LEARNING DISABILITY INCREASES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Radiation and Children: The Ignored Victims Hundreds of U.S. industrial sites that generate nuclear electricity and manufacture nuclear weapons regularly release radiation to our air, water and soil via the burial of wastes. These same industries are now lobbying for permission from government to release radioactive materials for re-use in consumer products. There is no safe radiation dose. VW'hether the release is accidental or allowed is irrelevant. This dramatic surge in the release and distribution of radiation, makes it ever more clear that we do not need a nuclear accident to cause disease. The Tyranny of "Standard Man" division during physical growth. DNA is most Unfortunately, even when nuclear activities are vulnerable to radiation impact while cells divide. In performed within legal, "allowable limits," our addition to cancer and birth defects, evidence exists children are not protected. This is for a simple that radiation is permanently mutating the gene pool reason: U.S. radiation protection standards assume and contributing to its gradual weakening, resulting that the individual exposed to the harmful radiation in i'developmental deficiencies in the fetus, released is an adult male. A child exposed to the hereditary disease, accelerated aging, and such non-same release of radiation would 6ften experience a specific effects as loss of immune competence" [The larger dose. The "protection" standards ignore this New Scientist]. fact. The work of Dr. Alice Stewartj a British The. "Allowable" Poison epidemiologist, established in the 1950's that Radiation regulations are written by international children born to women who received even One state and federal agencies. Since no industrial scale abdominal x-ray during pregnancy were four times nuclear operation is pdssible without the routine more likely to suffer childhood cancer as a "post-release of fadioactive materials, regulators have birth defect." established "alltwable" levels of radiation exposure. All life on Earth is exposed to and impacted by Childhood disease clusters have been found in many natural sources -ofionizing radiation. Radiation communities with nuclear facilities.- This list includes exposures are increasing due to planned and increases in childhood leukemia near reprocessing accidental releases of man-made radioactivity. facilities in La Hague, France and at Sellafield in the Nuclear reactors, central to both nuclear electricity British Isles and the Krummel nuclear reactor in and nuclear weapons production, actually make new Germany. Childhood leukemia cases near Sellafield radioactivity. Natural uranium is radioactive, but are associated with occupational exposure to the father putting uiranium fuel in a reactor results in wastes before conception of the child. Increases in childhood that are millions of times "hotter" after only a few leukemia also occurred Europe-wide after the passage years ofuse. These materials are much More potent of the Chernobyl radiation cloud. Increases in other in cbrntaminating human and environmental systdms. childhood cancers have been found near nuclear Every radiation exposure carries with it risk of operations in the Navaho Nation (uranium minig), adverse health effects, so increasing radiation Brookhaven, New York (nuclear weapons), and: exposure increases risk to our health whether the nuclear power stations in Oyster Creek, NJ and radiation is natural, more biologically available due Clinton, Illinois. Increases in down syndrome are to human interference, or human-made. found near Yankee Rowe power station in Massachusetts. Heart defects of various types have Children Are More Susceptible been associated with ionizing radiation exposure as. Radiation--invisible, odorless, tasteless--tears at the well. very fabric of what makes us human: our genetic material. Children and the unborn are especially susceptible because of their rapid cell Nclear Inforation =.rd Res6uTre SenvceAVorhd info,-ation Servic on rEnergay-Ansterdarn Main offices: Washinztoa, DC and -musterdam, Netheri-ds . Affiliate offices: Asbeville. NC. Rosano. Argentina Liaz, Austaia; Brno. Cz-e *public; Hiroshima, Japan; Seoul. Korea, Kaliann-,-ad Russia; 3,a.tislava, Slovakia; Capetowa"._. South Africa; Stockliini, Sweden-; Riv'ne ULaaine; WISE-Urhani'U: n.sArdzofl. Ger-'many
/
Error-ridden Assumptions different radionuclides to which people may be The process of setting radiation standards and also exposed are: simply not known.
.
determining whether a particular release of , radioactive water or other material meets those Since scientists do not truly know the specific standards, requires many assumptions. The first of impacts a given radionuclide may have on the these is about the individual receiving the radiation organs and tissues of a specific person, the dose. Most regulators assume that this individuallis. translation of the amount of radioactivity to which the "Standard Man:" a fictional individuial whose:: thatperson has.been, excposed"(in curies or fractions physical characteristics have been defined by of a curie) into a radiation dose (in rems or officials who set radiation standards. A standard milirems)`iS basically speculation. That is,.
- height, weight,. age and other parameters are used in determining the quality and the quantity of a equations to project the radiation dose that this radiation dose and biological damage to tissue is far hypotheticalijndividual is likely to receive from a from an exact science.
given release of radioactivity. Women, fetuses, infants, children, elders and those with Unenforceable Standards Are Not Protection compromised immune systems are not Standard Radiation standards are written in units called Men. Due to many differences including, smaller "reins" or "millirems" (one one-thousandth of a body size, as well as difference in habits (for rem). Like dose calculations, the unit of dose is instance playing outside on the ground), a child may based on assumptions - including StandardMan,. get a raidiation dose many times larger than the estimations, averages and computer modeling. As a official dose, based on the Standard Man, ais result, the rem cannot be measured directly; instead calculatgd by state and federal radiation "protection" it is derived from assumptions and equations, which agencies. This larger dose carries with it a greater do not reflect children. No one can say for sure how risk of health consequences. National Council on mapy reins or millirems any one individual has (or
/
Radiation ProtectiOn (NCRP) states that a child has not) received, therefore standards that use this receives 10-50% more of a dose from gamma unit cannot be enforced. An alternative is to prevent ground radiation than an adult because their organs the release of radioactivity. When accidents occur it are closer to the ground. (NCRP 129 Recommended should be assumed that children will be exposed and-Screening Limnits for Contaminated Surface Soil inad protective action taken. Most parents support Review of Factors Relevant to Site Specific' Studies; prevention -nd should seek to avoid any exposure-at pg:p56 1999).Yet the NRC exposure standards do all. Prevention is the only. cure. not accoint for this differenc& This is an external --Cindy Folkers & Ma7y Olson, August 2004 dose scenario. Internal dose scenarios- with ingested or inhaled radionuclides often amount to more. Nuclear Information and..'Resouirce Service biological damage to children For example, 1424 16' Street NW, #404- Washington, DC 20036; Strontiuin-90 (Sr-90) deposition in the bones can 202.328.0002; fax: 202.462.2183; nirsnetZnirs.orq, cause'bone and blood cancers. www.nirs.org World Information Service on Energy Radiation Effects on Real People PO Box 56936, 1Q40, LC Amsterdam, The Exposure to radiation increases the risk of damage 'Netherlands; 31.20Z.12.6368; fax: .31 *20.689.2179 to tissues, cells, DNA anid other:vital molecul's-- .-wiseamster(Eantenna-{n, wwwlantenna.nlIwise potentilily causing programmed cell death (apoptosis), genetic mutations, cancers, leukemias, birth defects, and reproductive, immune, cardiovascular, and endocrine system disorders. The varying impacts on health of each of the hundreds of Nuclear fif-onnatiol. an,d Resource Service/World lnformation Service on Enersy-Amterdam 1-Main offices: Washiniton, DC and Amsterdam. Netherlands Affihate ofcýes: Ashevilie, NC; Resario, Argentina: Lfnz, Austria; Brno. Czech Republic; Hioshima, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Kal-ningradjThussiaz Bratisiava, Slovakia; CaTpetown. South Africa: Stockholm. Sweden; RivNe. Ukraine; -ISE-Uranium: Arnsdort, Germ-nay
VERIFIES GREATER POTTSTOWN AREA HEALTH CONCERNS Reported October 5, 2003 --According to EPA Greater Pottstown Area INFANT And NEONATAL MORTALITY ARE FAR ABOVE The STATE AVERAGE And EVEN SURPASS CITIES Like Philadelphia, Reading And Bethlehem. Greater Pottstown Area State Health Statistics Show What EPA Called "DISTURBING NUMBERS" FOR INFANT MORTALITY AND NEONATAL MORTALITY
Lo-WLeves Radiation Exposure and.te. _ v
*I"There ALminkIn.Po.ttstown?
dInfant Mortality
. 1iroshina an d.Nagasak-i: data Show chiidren'ad infants, are more snsitive to th* effects of low level~s of~onzisig roadfiation,.
1.
.)* Data. coilected frornChe~nmbyl;shw from moi~toring~stations as Tar' as. 9;O niles away that .ih.fant.mortallty rates rose after. tio accidj,,t.
"Reseachers s~ugg~est thaEP.A lits o.exosure:to low. level radiation, may need to be by, as.
atightened much as a factorbof 1009,. N hIfan~t mqrrality rates. toss
.....after o~ thee r~od meltdowni .in-,.a'v,,annah
.......
t.... tah..e .ls
.f .......... .ls....d.."... River .Georgia.
. . .. . ,.
> ora iyrt lsorose after tie Three Mile IslIpid accident wherepeople received only low do:sesof radigtion, The. cnuulative weight of this:data coIlected.on affe ted populatlons, is persuasive enough to- u,1ll for PRECAUTIONI
~ttp~/ww*4ttsUI.rc~cgm -
t many.baby' deathBy CARIL HmESSLER J ,. Postown "This Isembarrassing. Merury Staf Writer is too wealthy and too educated" to have' this happen. For a county this, able. The Pottetown area includes live births between, 1987 and Pottstown, Lower Pottagrove, Upper while the black infant mortailt. !is-county isltoo wealthy NORRISTOWN - Despite health wealthy we need to do better,* Democratic commissioner. James W. Pottagrove and West Pottagrove. was 15.1 per 1,000 live birtths. and too educated to department efforts to curb infant deaths in Pottatown during the las t Maza ai when confronted with infant Overall, the cuntywide infant mor- Robert Gage, director of theI mortality statistic&"
- tality rate (deaths of children under health department, said health el have this happen. For a everal years, Pottatown continues to age I)- 4rlng the same time period have been working intensely sine h'*vea higher.than averaW' infant mar According to statistics compiled by was '7.0.. The white infant mortality to try to decrease the infant 'me tality~rsta.
county this wealthy~we the Montgomery County Health rate countywide wa 6:2 mid the.blek,4 rate". The department has a- pr And those'*babies' born to black Department, the Pottatown area aver- infant mortality rate was 15.2.........where public health nurses need to do better." mothers are dying more often than aged 7;9 infant deaths for every 1,000 The sta*t*.a indicated that in the. Pottatown area pregnant women babies born to white mothers. live- births between 1987 and 1996, the Pottstown area, the white infant.mor-
-James W; Maza 'This is -embarrassing. Thin county Iat year for which statistics are avail. tality ratiewas 6.8 deaths per 1,000. (5- ,FAWr MorTALrY ea As)
InPottst
?ANT MOIRTALr Y from 'Al) A ~~
Own, far tood anyt Ip I III r1,0 ButTsou said the news isn't-.fllbad. i_ Average Annual Infant Mortality Rats Wps 1,000 lie births, 'The good news.for Montgomery County is that our in.fant In into prenatal care-es 5oonas possible. Pattstown Area, 1987-4996 mortality is'battertaný state and national statistics," Teou. We ha;ve to do more," Gage adinttted;-adding howeveri thatt. tsaid.
'elocal statistics mirror Are. attempting trendsmore in the natipn and the -statae. Year All.Races Whites Taou" said the county is: already. below the :federal year 2000 to muster resources. We. have -been ob)ectiveaof- 7' infant deaths per,1,000 live births. In 1996, the using on Pottstown and Norristown, on'the Census tracks at 1988-1992 BD9 7.7 county's overall Infant mortality rate -was about 5.7 and hest risk." Pennsylvania's infant mortality rate was about 7.6A 'he comisslizners have asked Gage and othei health officials ant mortalit rates. Tsou said, tend to be Sikjely-submit'a report within.two weeks to explain the reasons for 1.99-1994 . 78.7 7,1 Sw t and a mother's access to prop-high -infant mortallty *rates .in the. borouh .of Ppttatown ".:1992-1t990. 7.5 *6.8 er-prenatal care.
I Norristown and to suggest solutions. "Low bifth weight is the most Important predictor. of infent
'This isn't good enough. We have a long Way to go in this mbi-tality, Tou'. said.
mty,' Maze said If 'it is a problem:of money, then Iwant to: Average annual Infant-morlailty rate 1987-1996 The year 2000 goal In the nation is *thAt only-S percent of all Ireas what we cah. do' .to remegi~~ that. It may' not be 'just- : 15,1 per 1000 1lve births-black babies born should be of low birth. weight,. In .1996,-about 8.5 iney," Ponsm &rea - Potsto*,n LowerpPoagrove, ULppr Pottagrove, and West Pottgrv*e percent of all. babies born in the county were of low birth Walter Tsou, depity director of the health department, poont, weight. out that Norristown continues 'to have the, highest infant Souroel Montsomery County Health Departent The goal In Lhe year 2000 is to havyAt least90 percent of all
)rtallty rate Iih the county and Norristown ranks ffth innthe PA Department of Health pregnant women receive prenatal care during the first ita in infant mortalityý.From 1994 to-1998,.the infant Nkll.naj Center- or"lal . OitjOth ytlo, trimester of pregnancy. In 1996, aljout. 9 percent of all trtahity rate in Norristonw w*a '17,1, withý the white infant-, Matvr-V Orophlc by CLD.,Six pregnant county women did not initiate prelaAtal care in the )rtality. rate at 1'8. and;,the black- infan mortality rate at irst trimester, including 7.2 percent of-white mothers and 28 Norristown's overall infant mortalityfrate was Just 12.9 and that percent of black mothers.
Norristown's 5. Infant. mortality rate.is twice. the county aver,: climbed to 17.9 durfng the period.1994,96 Even more alarming, Tsou said, is that 30' percent of preg-
-* ,
, The numbers are goZg:upOsubstanfially Instead. of -ioing nant .Norristown women- didn't receive prenatal care during 'the
- There are geographic segments of our county where the down, We must not be doing something right,' Republican coin. r gtpimester,4n pe96.r. o
.es are highor," Tsou said. . missioner Mario Male said. "These numbers are very alarmifig. Young people, 45 perent ofteen.agera under age 20, did not But..in Norristown, the mortality rate has increased over the We need to get more proactive with the community to let people are, despite outreach. fforts there. Between' 1990 and 1992, know resources are 'there to help them.". initiate prenatal ýcare," Tsou said,. "As you get older, you get wiser and you get'prenatal care." ." ..
- Borough's baby death rate fuels 'concern' Iny CARL. IIE§SLES JIt 1995, Pottstown. averaged 9.7 infant death ..-countywide during the 10-year period -
Itercury 64aff Writer /ci/L~ 92~ -forevery 1000 live bfirtls, ,rom 7.8 Infant deaths per.1,000 live births in NORITOWN-lttsown has Ahigher. -n. ýomparlsonAthere were A1 Infant 196 to 0:1 infantdeaths per 1,000 live births than average lnfitntmotrtai*i-rate and those de"aths for every 1000 live blrths .co-uitywide in !M95"
*abies .under1 year-old nOM to black in.Still,1995. Crielly-sald the county Is. below the feder-mothers are dyirw more 0otn"n lhan.their- the infant mortality~rate in Pottstown -al health goal for-infant mortality for the.
vhite', counterpartsi,,accord'ing to ?Montgom- was better than than that, in .Norristown, year 2000, which is seven deaths for every where 15:2 infants died for every 1,000 live 1,000 live births. cry Couhnty. health ofTlclais, births over the 10-year period between 1986 "Overall, it looks like we are meeting the
*ackrouns an eduational levels tha~thte* and 1995" year 2000.objec.tlves. But when you break it
__i nlnt mort~ality.1tte)..is~hilgher:,tlian average. ,it's
" -causing us some concern. We have out by race, we found that the black~iace has work to do in those areas," said Crielly, re- a really high infant mortality rate," Crielly Hi Fol LoWn to i. I r e ferring to the rates in Pottstown and Nor- said.
mt1nicar.services for the heIthlepartment,
",.iAccordinJg' to a cnhild "health needs ristown. While
. Pottstown and Norristown . continue 1,000 In 1995,18.4 live birthsblack infants-lied forever'y in the county. Granted, that, ass, ment, report released this month..by. to have higher than average infant mortality thehealth. department, between 1986 And rates, overallinfant mortality rates declined (geet NFANTSon4) -
are f ar: alg'.
.
r ,tr The outre:, a decrease from the all~time. ---*W *Tl5Ue-Ve matn a.wonT of transportation and a Ia:kof come women. should be seen at least. once by insurance coverage as the major workers can help women 1g0 rate of '25.4 black an obstetrician. In her first ov.
.infant leathax per 1,000 'live births in trimester of pregnancy," Crielly barriers to receiving timely come such barriers prenatal care. as .JAIL
.908, but gtll hlghierthan the fed- said. "One.of the most Important Only'12 percdnt f6r i 1 hii1t irs To reverse the trends, Crielly Vices t. nyortation or- d.. re P. !ralthealth goal0of.11 deaths for things a woman can do to *ensure in Pottstown receive. prenata or for te .very 1,000 live births by the year good health outcome from a preg- -care In.the first three months and said health officials will 'focusg "re-natal care. M)0V, Crielly said.
- only 71 Percent of new mothers in their educational efforts toward nancy Is prenatal care:" Norristown receive prenatal care, minority women in the geographi.
- Crielly In cornp*eo'son, 5.1 white infants said health departme lied fbr every i,ooo live birthm W0Health officials said the. year according to.the goal is to have at least 90 study. Cal Areas, such, as Pottstown. and Officials will also luflng 1995, according to the percent of all pregnant women Once again, the racial break, Norristown; where there are high prenatal Pprovic down produces disturbing Infant mortality rates, care information tudy. " 'pregnant women Crielly said efforts to curb receivemontht.of prenatal care in the first statistics;
- Crielly said.. "We are:going to have outreach conducting they meet lead noisonlr whii lack Infant mortality must in- three pregnancy.
" The study found.that 90.4 " About.30 percent of new black workers going into the 3nsify In the next few years If the cent per- mbthers countywide delayed at welfare and, come "uniUes WIC t
.fSeL 1In a t l~hioe im n -Uie -Couir' ounty Is going to meet the year initiate of new.mothers in-1995:did their prenatal care in the first only about 1oprenatal care. in l99*5 while I.(Women and Infant Care) omces
)00 goal.
*li[ysaid the morta~lit rate* three months of pregnancy. percent of white to provide information about . Health officals also plan 1t mothers.delayed their prenatal prenatal. care to pregnant educate.' women about th,
'"But~alotof poorerIwomenare care in tie first women," Crielly said.
t.rt wegh and a mother's ac- poLtin Contactwith do0CLOr trimester.. : -dangers: of tobacco and al'coho
-a dur- Officials said women cit.e.a lack
- The women will be encouragedi t"se during pregnancy. Smodkng'-
t *s roperprenatalcare, ingtheIlrstthreemonth5,"Cril-T to sign up for prenatal care pro-I grams or the health department's closely eh associated and drug wIth],.J? and ach . home visiting program, under a use among pregnant womer which the county's public health can lead to poor pregnancy out nurses visit the homes of low-in- comes, officials said.
Infant Death and Childhood Cancer REDUCTIONS AFTER Nuclear Plant Closings In The United States. Archives of Environmental Health; 1/1/2002 Subsequent to 1987, 8 U.S. nuclear plants located at least 113 km.from other reactors ceased operations. Strontium-90 levels in local milk declined sharply after closings, as did deaths *among infants who had lived downwind and within 64 km of each plant. These reductions occurred during the first 2 yr that followed closing of the plants, were sustained for at least 6 yr, and were especially pronounced for birth defects. Trends in infant deaths in proximate areas not downwind, and more than 64 km from the closed plants, were not different from the national patterns. In proximate areas for which data were available, cancer incidence in children younger than 5 yr of age fell significantly after the shutdowns. Changes in health following nuclear reactor closings may help elucidate the relationship between low-dose radiation exposure and disease. THERE IS A RELATIVE PAUCITY of research that documents the beneficial health effects to humans following a reduction in the level of environmental toxins. Existing data provide evidence for immediate responses, as well as for responses with longer latencies. Motor vehicle restrictions during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games resulted in a 2 8 % drop in peak ozone concentration and a more than 40% reduction in asthma admissions/emergency room visits among Atlanta children. (1) The decline in smoking for U.S. adult males, from 52% in 1965 to 28% in 1990, (2) was not followed by a reduction in age-adjusted incidence of lung-bronchial cancers until 1984. (3) Reduction of ionizing radiation in the environment, and hence in the food chain, occurred after enactment of the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963 that prohibited atmospheric atomic weapons testing by the United States, the (then) Soviet Union, and Great Britain. In the United States, dietary levels of short-lived isotopes, such as iodine-1 31 (1-131) and strontium-89 (Sr-89), with respective biological half-lives of 8 and 50 days, fell dramatically. Even concentrations of a long-lived isotope such as strontium-90 (half-life = 28.7 yr) in raw milk declined by one-half in 9 U.S. cities from the peak of April/May 1964 to November/December 1965. This decline, from an average of 30 to 15 picocuries per liter, fell further to 6 by 1970. (4,5) Diminishing radioactivity levels in the diet were accompanied by immediate and significant morbidity and mortality reductions among infants and young children. U.S. infant deaths per 1,000 births fell from 24.7 to 19.1 from 1965 to 1971, respectively--a rate of decrease more than 4 times greater than for 1951-1965, (6) respectively. (Note: Atmospheric bomb testing in Nevada began in January 1951.7) Cancer incidence in children who were younger than 5 yr of age and who lived in Connecticut--the only U.S. state that operated a comprehensive tumor registry--dropped 30% from the 1962-1964 peak of 20.38 cases/100,000 to 14.21 by 1967-1969, following a 40% rise during the time of atmospheric bomb testing. (8) Although most permanent shutdowns of nuclear power reactors are relatively recent, periods that follow unexpectedly large releases of airborne emissions offer an example of reduced environmental radioactivity. In the 1960s, declines in local infant mortality were documented after substantial reductions in gaseous emissions from several nuclear facilities. (9) In downwind areas within 64 km of 5 closed reactors, infant deaths declined at an unexpectedly rapid rate in the first 2 yr that followed closing. (10) We propose to extend that report by presenting data on all reactors for which post-shutdown data are currently available. Mortality 2 yr and 6 yr after reactor closings will be reviewed, the purpose of which will be assessment of whether immediate reductions are sustained over longer periods of time. Proximate areas that are not downwind from closed reactors and 64-129 km downwind will be examined. Finally, childhood cancer incidence trends near closed reactors will also be considered. Method Subsequent to 1987, 13 nuclear power reactors in the United States have been closed permanently. In addition, 5 other reactors have been nonoperational for at least 2 consecutive calendar years (see Table 1). The 8 regions in which closings left no operating power reactor within a 112-km radius of the closed facility are the focus of this report. Preliminary data have already been presented for 5 of the 8 regions. (10) Of
these 8 regions, 6 have involved permanent shutdowns. The Pilgrim reactor in Massachusetts did not operate from April 1986 until late 1988. During the winter of 1995-1996, all 4 Connecticut reactors--3 at Millstone in Waterford and 1 in Haddam Neck, 29 km to the northwest--were closed. Millstone units 2 and 3 resumed operations in July 1999 and July 1998, respectively. Demographic characteristics of the 8 areas are presented in Table 2. Population density varied greatly; some regions were urban settings, and some were sparsely populated areas. Poverty rates and percentages of Blacks and Hispanics in the population were less than the U.S. standard in each area. An approximation of change in environmental radioactivity before and after a reactor shutdown may be observed with annual measures of Sr-90 in pasteurized milk, reported each July by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 60 U.S. cities. (11) Readings for cities located within 64 km of closed reactors are also provided. The analysis of levels of long-lived Sr-90 has likely underestimated the reduction in environmental radioactivity inasmuch as short-lived isotopes emitted by reactors would no longer be present after a shutdown. Short-lived airborne radioactive particulates often decay before entering the food chain. However, they can enter the body through inhalation. Persons with the greatest uptake from this vector are those who live downwind from the source, inasmuch as prevailing winds carry the majority of particles in the downwind direction. Longer-lived isotopes can also be inhaled, but they are also returned to earth by precipitation, after which they are again consumed in the diet. Again, levels are most likely highest in downwind, rainy areas. This principle is illustrated in the patterns of fallout from atmospheric atomic bomb tests in Nevada. For example, after the large "Smoky" test on August 31, 1957, U.S. government officials documented elevated levels of radioisotopes in raw milk. The typical concentration of Sr-89 (< 5 picocuries/l) was exceeded in Cincinnati, Ohio (i.e., 150 picocuries/l); in New York (160 picocuries/I); in Sacramento, California (30 picocuries/l); in Saint Louis, Missouri (290 picocuries/I); and in Salt Lake City, Utah (120 picocuries/I). (12) The only upwind city--Sacramento--had the lowest concentration of Sr-89. In addition, the total in Salt Lake City (i.e., city closest to Nevada) was exceeded by the much rainier Cincinnati (Ohio), New York, and Saint Louis (Missouri) areas. Given that airborne radioactive particulates are propelled by prevailing winds, in this analysis we focused on counties located downwind and mostly or totally within 64 km of the closed reactors. Prevailing wind directions for the large city or cities nearest to each closed reactor were used. (13) Winds in Portland, Oregon--near the closed Trojan reactor--emanate from the east-southeast and northwest during 6 individual months; therefore, "downwind" counties are situated in both directions. Infant deaths that occurred during the first year of life were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. County-specific deaths and population information were available on the world wide web (http://www. cdc.gov/data and statistics/CDC Wonder). The accuracy of the count of infant deaths is likely very high; all U.S. states have reported death data to the federal government, subject to reliability tests since 1933. Coding the reason for death should also be consistent over time; the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (iCD) coding system was used for the classification of all deaths from 1979 to 1998. The county of residence for an infant death (i.e., mother's residence) has been a standard data element collected in the hospital medical record for many years. Infant mortality rates before and after reactors ceased operations were compared. The period before a reactor is closed is defined as the last 2 yr of operation, including the year of closing. For example, the LaCrosse reactor ceased operations on April 30, 1987; therefore, the "before" period of operation is 1986-1987. Given that cellular damage from radioactive exposures is most pronounced in the fetal period, many births that followed the closing of a reactor (but in the same year) were subject to exposures from reactor operations prior to birth. Rates for the 2 yr before closing are contrasted with rates for the subsequent 2- and 6-yr periods. The report also reviewed infant mortality from congenital anomalies. (ICD codes 740.0-759.9) known to be sensitive to the effects of radiation. Approximately 1 of every 4 deaths in the first year of life results from a birth defect. Approximately one-half of the infant congenital anomaly deaths involves heart defects. Chromosomal defects (including Down's, Edwards', and Patau's syndromes), and nervous system defects (including anencephalus and spina bifida) account for another. quarter of deaths. (6)
Childhood cancer data were also analyzed because of the increased sensitivity of the developing fetus to the carcinogenic effectsof ionizing radiation. Cancer incidence data were available only from state registries of California, Colorado, and Wisconsin. These states operated comprehensive tumor registries before and after closings (i.e., reporting of cancer cases was mandated by state law, reporting originated from several sources, and the reporting system was complete and accurate). Cases diagnosed before an. individual's 5th birthday, which likely represented a fetal origin, were analyzed. Trends in infant mortality near closed nuclear facilities were compared with U.S. patterns. Aggregated data (le., 1988-1996) from states and cities that made up approximately 47% of the U.S. population were used for cancer incidence because no national registry exists. (Areas include the states of California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin; and the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas of Atlanta, Denver, and Seattle.) Infant mortality and childhood cancer trends in counties near nuclear plants were also compared with all other counties in the state. For Millstone, "other state" represents Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, whereas for Trojan, "other state" represents Oregon and Washington combined. Results Change in environmental radioactivity. Sr-90 concentrations in pasteurized milk over a 12-yr period before and after shutdown were available for 3 cities within 64 km of closed nuclear plants. These were compared with trends in 23 U.S. cities for which an annual reading was reported each year from 1983-1994 (Table 3). In each area near a closed reactor, the average Sr-90 concentration fell by more than the U.S. decline (67.1%, 48.0%, and 47.1%, compared with 34.0%). This comparison was hampered by the availability of only 1 annual measurement, thus raising the chance of random fluctuation. Infant mortality---all causes. Infant mortality in each of the 8 downwind areas decreased during the first 2 yr following closing (Table 4). Each decline exceeded the U.S. average 2-yr reduction of 6.4%, and the total decline of 17.4% was significant (p < .01). Each decline also exceeded the trend for other counties in the state; the total reduction in other counties of 6.7% was significantly different from the "nuclear" counties (p <
.01).
Infant mortality data for 6 yr post-shutdown were available for counties near 4 of the 8 plants; the other plants closed too recently or they were re-started (Table 5). In each of the 4 areas, reductions continued to exceed the U.S. standard, and the total decline of 26.9% was significantly greater than the national trend (p
< .0001). Reductions near the Rancho Seco and Trojan plants were also significant. Rates also fell faster than in other counties in respective states.
Infant mortality--congenital anomalies. During the first 2 yr following reactor shutdown, infant deaths from congenital anomalies declined 22.4%, compared with an average 2-yr decline in the U.S. of 5.5% (p < 05) and a total decline of 5.6% combined for other counties in the state where reactors were located. Declines in 7 of the 8 areas exceeded that of the U.S.; declines in 6 of the 8 areas exceeded those of other counties in the state (Table 6). During the first 6 yr following the closing of the reactor (for the 4 areas for which data were available), declines near each reactor continued. The change near the Trojan reactor in Oregon is significant, compared with both the U.S. and other counties in Oregon and Washington (Table 7). Infant mortality--downwind 64-129 km from the plant. Infant mortality in downwind counties located 64-129 km from the closed reactors rose near 5 of the 7 plants (the area downwind from the Pilgrim reactor is the Atlantic Ocean). The overall increase of 5.4% was not significantly different from the 6.4% average national decrease. The 39.3% rise near the Rancho Seco reactor was significant at p < .01 (Table 8). Infant mortality--counties not downwind. In 6 of 8 regions, reductions in infant mortality rates occurred in the first 2 yr following shutdown in non-downwind counties located less than 64 km from closed facilities. However, none of the reductions were significant, and the combined change of 7.1% was equivalent to the average U.S. 2-yr decline (Table 9). Incidence--childhood cancer. In the states that operated comprehensive cancer registries at the time of reactor shutdown, incidence of newly diagnosed cancers in children under age 5 yr declined in downwind counties within 64 km. The decline measures the 2 yr prior to closing with 7 yr post-shutdown. The total reduction of 25.0% was significantly different from the stable U.S. trend (p < .005) and from the trend in
other counties in the state (p < .006) (Table 10). The reduction near the Rancho Seco plant in California was significant, compared with the reduction in the United States (p < .02) and in the remainder of the state (p <
.004).
Discussion Research on changes in health in populations exposed to reduced levels of radioactivity has been scant. However, falling infant mortality and a decrease in childhood cancer immediately after atmospheric nuclear weapons testing was halted in 1963 suggest that "smaller" exposures may result in measurable
- improvements in health, especially in infants and young children.
In each of 8 areas downwind and proximate to closed nuclear power plants, infant deaths declined in excess of national trends during the first 2 yr following shutdown. Declines in mortality from congenital anomalies among local infants were particularly sharp. These trends were consistent for 2-yr and 6-yr periods after plant closings. Although declines near each reactor have fallen short of statistical significance, the possibility that similar trends should occur in each area by random chance is low. The unexpectedly large decline in infant mortality occurred only in downwind counties that were located less than 64 km from closed nuclear facilities. Nondownwind counties located less than 64 km from reactors have nonsignificant declines in infant deaths. In downwind counties located 64-129 km from the plants, infant death rates increased, but the increases were not significant. Therefore, any beneficial effect of reactor shutdowns may apply only to the closest downwind counties. This finding illustrates the importance of analyzing the health of populations that live near nuclear facilities by direction, rather than as a whole. It also suggests that inhalation of airborne radioactive gases and particles, by which process the fetus absorbs radioactivity through the placenta, (14) may be a significant vector of exposure, along with dietary intake. Cancer diagnosed in children under the age of 5 yr was also reduced in proximate downwind counties with available data. This trend is meaningful because it takes into account disease. incidence, which cannot be affected by life-saving technological innovations, and may, therefore, be a more sensitive indicator of radiation effects than mortality. No demographic characteristic predisposes these areas to health improvements. Reduced infant mortality rates occurred in both rural and urban regions. The relatively small proportions of minorities and poor individuals should not affect short-term changes inasmuch as it is unlikely that the racial distribution of studied counties changed appreciably in 2 yr. In addition, during the 20th century, improvements in infant health have yielded relatively equal benefits for all races and socioeconomic classes (i.e., similar reductions in infant mortality have occurred for all races). The data support prior research that has shown that in utero exposures to radioactivity are most deleterious given the heightened sensitivity of the developing fetus and newborn infant. In the United States, infant deaths have been linked to exposure to fission products from atmospheric weapons tests. (15) In both Germany (16) and the United States, (17) increases in infant mortality have been attributed to fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Increased incidences of various congenital malformations have been documented in several European nations after Chernobyl (18-21.) Elevated rates of childhood cancer near U.S. nuclear reactors have also been reported. (22-24) In addition to reduced exposures to fission products, there may be other explanations for the decline. One such possibility is a demographic shift (i.e., closing of a nuclear power facility results in loss of employment for plant workers, who leave the area in search of work). Although some nuclear workers remain after reactors are closed to assist in deactivating the plant, many, in fact, lose their jobs. The processes of operating a reactor and deactivating it are distinctly different. Some evidence, however, suggests that this population shift may not account for the unexpectedly large infant death and childhood cancer decreases in their entirety.
- 1. Nuclear plant workers are generally healthier than other workers of childbearing age. They are sufficiently healthy to hold full-time jobs, and their employer-based health insurance allows them access to medical care (including prenatal care--an important determinant of infant mortality risk). Thus, any departure of these
workers from a downwind county after reactor closing would leave a higher-risk population than existed prior to closing of the reactor.
- 2. In urban areas, such as Sacramento, California, and Portland, Oregon, workers at the nuclear plant likely represent a small percentage of the overall workforce, and they have little impact on the postclosing infant death and cancer rates. Even in rural areas, numbers of live births did not decline rapidly following the closure of the reactor.
- 3. Workers are as likely to live upwind as they are to live downwind from the plant; however, consistent improvements in infant health occurred only in downwind areas.
- 4. Two of the plants were closed only temporarily. They did not lay off large numbers of workers, yet disease and death trends were similar to those obtained for the permanently closed reactors.
Whereas a substantial lag period between exposure and disease manifestation may be observed for adult cancers exposed to external x-rays, a much shorter lag period has been documented for very young individuals. Pelvic x-rays administered in utero are linked with increased cancer deaths before an individual's 10th birthday, (25) and 2/3 of these malignancies are diagnosed before the age of 5 yr. Thyroid cancer among children under 15. yr of age who lived near the Chernobyl facility began a sustained increase just 4 yr after the April 26, 1986, accident. (26-28) In 3 Pennsylvania counties located closest to the Three Mile Island facility, cancer deaths in persons under the age of 10 yr jumped from 28 to 36 in the 5 yr following the March 28, 1979, accident. (29) A relatively short latency period that followed the addition of radioactivity raises the question of whether a similarly short lag exists between reduced exposures and declining disease rates. Short-lived airborne radioisotopes emitted from reactors are completely removed from the environment/diet within several months of the plant shutdown. Long-lived isotopes decay slowly, but existing data on dietary levels of Sr-90 suggest that these may be reduced substantially within several years after plant closing. The data indicate that improvements in health occur after relatively slight reductions in dietary radioactivity. Sr-90 concentrations measured in milk samples in 9 U.S. cities fell from 30 to 15 picocuries per liter over an 18mo period following cessation of large-scale atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in the mid-1960s. In contrast, Sr-90 reductions in milk near closed nuclear reactors fell from approximately 1.0 to 0.5 picocuries after shutdown. Changes in health status after a relatively small reduction support the effects of low-dose exposures on laboratory animals. (30) In light of these data, the current understanding of the relationship between low-dose radiation exposure and disease should be reconsidered. Several factors limit this study from being more meaningful. There is a dearth of research on health effects of reduced exposures to ionizing radiation and other toxic substances with which to compare results. Small population sizes in several of the areas near closed facilities make significant findings elusive. The 60 cities with federally reported dietary levels of radioactivity are often not proximate to nuclear sites. Moreover, routine reports of particular isotopes (e.g., barium-140, cesium-137, iodine-131, strontium-89) are no longer available. Reliance on annual strontium-90 levels in milk is a relatively basic measure of radiation burden on local residents. The use of weekly or monthly levels of a variety of isotopes (i.e., both short- and long-lived) would make dose estimates more meaningful. Moreover, given that locally consumed milk is often not produced locally, radioisotope concentrations in air and water would be useful. The current report was based on aggregate data. In this report, we did not measure levels of radioactivity in the bodies of individual decedents or of infants who survived the first year of life. More dose information--not just in environmental/dietary levels--but in vivo, is needed. U.S. government programs that measure Sr-90 in deciduous teeth, children's vertebrae, and adult vertebrae were discontinued in the 1970s and early 1980S. (31) A recent project in which Sr-90 concentrations were measured in deciduous teeth of persons living near nuclear reactors indicated a link between Sr-90 levels and childhood cancer incidence. (32) More research on how intrauterine exposure to radiation affects health in later life is critical in understanding effects of nuclear reactors. With more than 400 such facilities operating worldwide, such data can play a vital role in any program of disease prevention and health promotion.
Table 1.--U.S. Nuclear Reactors Closed Subsequent to 1987 Started! Prevailing Reactor name (location) closed wind direction LaCrosse 07/11/67 South (Genoa, Wl) 04/30/87 (LaCrosse) Rancho Seco 09/16/74 Southwest (Clay Station, CA) 06/07/89 (Sacramento, CA) Fort St. Vrain 01/31/74 South (Platteville, CO) 08/18/89 Denver, CO) Trojan 12/15/75 , East-southeast/ (Prescott, OR) 11/09/92 northwest (Portland, OR) Maine Yankee 10/23/72 South (Wiscasset, ME!) 08/05/97 (Portland, ME) Big Rock Point 09/27/62 West-northwest (Charlevoix, MI) 08/29/97 (Sault Ste. Marie, IL) Southwest (Alpena, MI) Temporary shutdowns Haddam Neck 07/24/67 South (Haddam Neck, CT) -- (Hartford, CT) Millstone 1,2,3 10/26/70 Southwest (Waterford, CT) (Providence, RI) Pilgrim 06/16/72 Southwest (Plymouth, MA) 04/30/86 (Boston, MA) Comparison of reactors closed subsequent to 1987 with physical locations of additional operating reactors located < 113 km from closed reactor specified Reactor name (location) Date closed Handford-N (Richmond, WA) 02/01/88 Yankee Rowe (Rowe, MA) 10/01/91 San Onofre (San Clemente, CA) 11/30/92 Clinton (Clinton, IL) Autumn of 1996 LaSalle County 2 (Seneca, IL) Autumn of 1996 Zion 1,2 (Zion, IL) 01/16/98 Cities located downwind 1990 Population Reactor name (location) (< 64 km from closed (n) reactor) LaCrosse LaCrosse, Wl 97,904 (Genoa, WI) Vernon, Wl 25,617
Rancho Seco Amador, CA 30,039 (Clay Station, CJA) El Dorado, CA 125,995 Placer, CA 172,796 Sacramento, CA 1,041,219 Fort St. Vrain Larimer, CO 186,136 (Platteville, CO) Weld, CO 131,821 Trojan Columbia, OR 37,557 (Prescott, OR) Clark, WA 238,053 Cowl itz, WA 82,119 Multnomah, OR 583,887 Wakhiakum, WA 3,832 Maine Yankee Kennebec, ME 115,904 (Wiscasset, ME) Knox, ME 36,310 Lincoln, ME 30,357 Big Rock Point Antrim, Ml 18,185 (Charlevois, MI) Charlevoix, MI 21,468
'heboygan, MI 23,800 Emmet, MI 25,040
)tsego, MI 17,957 Temporary shutdowns Haddam Neck Middlesex, CT 143,196 (Haddam Neck, CT) New London, CT 254,957 Millstone 1,2,3 Tolland, CT 128,699 (Waterford, CT) Windham, CT .102,525 Kent, RI 161,135 Washington, RI 110,006 Pilgrim Plymouth, MA 435,276 (Plymoutn, MA)
Comparison of reactors closed subsequent to 1987 .with physical locations of additional operating reactors located < 113 km from closed reactor specified Reactor name (location) Reactor name and distance/direction from closed reactor Handford-N (Richmond, WA) Washington Nuclear 2; same site as closed reactor Yankee Rowe (Rowe, MA) Vermont Yankee; 24 km northeast San Onofre (San Clemente, CA) San Onofre 2 and 3; all 3 reactors located at same site Clinton (Clinton, IL) LaSalle 1; 113 km north LaSalle County 2 (Seneca, IL) LaSalle 2; same site as closed reactor Zion 1,2 (Zion, IL) Byron 1; 104 km west Notes: WI = Wisconsin, CA = California, CO =.Colorado, OR = Oregon, WA = Washington, ME = Maine, MI = Michigan, CT = Connecticut,
MA = Massachusetts, IL Illinois, and RI = Rhode Island.
- In this column, specific cities that appear within parentheses are located downwind in. the wind direction cited.
Table 2.--Demographic Data and Downwind Counties Located < 64 km from Nuclear Reactors that Had Closed Percentage Population Black Hispanic Low SES Reactor name per km[2] (1995) (1995) person in 1997 (%) (1995) U.S. 29.2 12.7 11.0 13.8 LaCrosse 40. 1 0.5 0.8 10.2 Rancho Seco 1 27. 0 7.4 13.6 13.6 Fort St. Vrain 22. 3 6.6 14.4 10.8 Trojan 133.5 4.5 4.2 12.0 Maine Yankee 12. 3 0.2 0.5 11.7 Big Rock Point 1'7.6 0.3 1.4 10.5 Haddam Neck/Millstone 144.3 3.0 2.3 6.5 Pilgrim 270.1 5.1 2.8 7.8 Areas with higher concentrations than U.S. 6 0 2 0 Areas with lower concentrations than U.S. 2 8 6 8 Notes: SES = socioeconomic status; low SES refers to those individuals whose incomes were below the poverty line. Table 3.--Change in Average Strontium-90 Concentrations in Pasteurized Milk in Cities Located < 64 km from Nuclear Plants that Had Closed Years included City/state Closest reactor BC AC Sacramento, CA Rancho Seco, CA 1983-1988 1989-1994 Denver, CO Fort St. Vrain, CO 1983-1988 1989-1994 Portland, OR Trojan, OR 1987-1992 1993-1994 U.S. (23 cities) 1983-1988 1989-1994 Average strontium-90 concentration
- City/state B( n AC n Change (%)
Sacramento, CA 0.92 6 0.48 6 -47.1 Denver, CO 1.52 6 0.50 2 -67.1 Portland, OR 1.25 6 0.65 2 -48.0 U.S. (23 cities) 1.97 1.30 -34.0 Notes: BC: before closing reactor, AC = after closing reactor, CA = California, CO = Colorado, and OR = Oregon.
- Concentrations of strontium-90 are expressed in picocuries of Sr-90 per liter of milk.
Table 4.--Change in "All-Causes" Death Rates of Infants during
Their First Year of Life and Who Were Located < 64 km Downwind of Reactors, 2 Years before vs. 2 Years after Nuclear Plant Closings Year Infant deaths Live births Reactor Closed BC AC BC AC LaCrosse, WI 1987 36 30 3,507 3,452 Rancho Seco, CA 1989 418 390 44,500 49,414 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 1989 83 72 9,725 9,977 Trojan, OR 1992 253 204 30,320 29,799 Big Rock Point, MI 1997 25 15 2,922 3,040 Maine Yankee, ME 1997 19 18 38,841 4,013 Pilgrim, MA 1986 97 76 12,956 13,412 Millstone, CT 1995 166 130 22,261 21,093 Total for 8 areas 1,097 935 130,032 134,200 U.S. average for 2-yr change 1986-1998 Deaths/1,000 Change (%) Reactor BC AC Local Other state LaCrosse, WI 10.27 8.69 -15.4 -1.9 Rancho Seco, CA 9.39 7.89 -16.0 -9.2 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 8.53 7.22 -15.4 -5.2 Trojan, OR 8.34 6.85 -17.9 -5.9 Big Rock Point, MI 8.56 4.93 -42.4 +2.0 Main Yankee, ME 4.95 4.49 -9.3 +22.8 Pilgrim, MA 7.49 5.67 -24.3 -13.1 Millstone, CT 7.46 6.16 -17.4 -5.4 Totals for 8 areas 8.44 7.00 -17.4 -6.7 U.S. average for 2-yr change 6.4 Notes: BC = 2 yr befor closing reactor, AC = 2 yr after closing reactor, WI Wisconsin, CA = California, CO = Colorado, OR = Oregon, MI = Michigan, ME = Maine, MA = Massachusetts, and CT = Connecticut.
- p < .01 (nuclear counties vs. both U.S. and other state totals).
Table 5.-- Change in "All-Causes" Death Rates of infants during Their First Year of Life and Who Were Located < 64 km Downwind of Reactors, 2 Years before vs. 6 Years after Nuclear Plant Closings Year Infant deaths Live births Reactor Closed BC AC BC AC LaCrosse, WI 1987 36 69 3,507 10,302 Rancho Seco, CA 1989 418 1,038 44,500 144,770 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 1989 83 192 9,725 30,129 Trojan, OR 1992 253 523 30,320 92,649 Totals for 4 areas 790 1,822 88,052 277,880 U.S. average for 6-yr change 1986-1998 Deaths/1,000 Change (%) Reactor BC AC Local Other state LaCrosse, WI 10.27 6.70 -34.8 -7.7 Rancho Seco, CA 9.39 7.17 -23.6 -16.5 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 8.53 6.37 -25.3 -15.2
Trojan, OR 8.34 5.64 -32.4 -12.7 Totals for 4 areas 8.97 6.56 -26.9* -15.1 U.S. average for 6-yr change -11.9 Notes: BC = 2yr before closing reactor, AC = 6 yr after closing reactor, WI = Wisconsin, CA = California, CO = Colorado, and OR = Oregon. . p < .0001 (nuclear counties vs. both U.S. and other state totals). Rancho Seco difference (p < .05) and Trojan difference (p < .0001) were significant. Table 6.--Change in "Congenital Anomalies" Death Rates of Infants during Their First Year of Life and Who Were Located < 64 km downwind of Reactors, 2 Years before vs. 2 Years after Nuclear Plant Closings* Year Infant deaths Live births Reactor Closed BC AC BC AC LaCrosse, WI 1987 7 4 3,507 3,452 Rancho Seco, CA 1989 90 79 44,500 49,414 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 1989 20 24 9,725 9,977 Trojan, OR 1992 61 41 30,320 29,799 Big Rock Pt., MI 1997 10 4 2,922 3,040 Maine Yankee, ME 1997 6 5 3,841 4,013 Pilgrim, Ma 1986 26 23 12,956 13,412 Millstone, CT 1995 51 37 22,093 21,093 Totals for 8 areas 271 217 130,032 134,200 U.S. average for 2-yr change 1986-1998 Deaths/1,000 Change (%) Reactor BC AC Local Other state LaCrosse, WI 2.00 1.16 -42.0 +1.3 Rancho Seco, CA 2.02 1.60 -20.8 -10.1 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 2.06 2.41 +17.0 -6.6 Trojan, OR 2.01 1.38 -31.3 -1.0 Big Rock Pt., MI 3.42 1.32 -61.5 +1.0 Maine Yankee, ME 1.36 1.25 20.2 +5.4 Pilgrim, Ma 2.01 1.71 -14.9 -32.5 Millstone, CT 2.29 1.75 -23.6 -7.7 Totals for 8 areas 2.08 1.62 -22.4* -5.6 U.S. average for 2-yr change .' 5.5 Notes: BC = 2 yr befor closing reactor, AC = 2 yr after closing reactor, WI = CA = California, CO = Colorado, OR = Oregon, MI = Michigan, ME = Maine, MA = Massachussetts, and CT = Connecticut.
- p < .05 (nuclear counties vs. both U.S. and other state totals).
Table 7.--Change in "Congenital Anomalies" Death Rates of Infants during Their First Year of Life and Who Were Located < 64 km Downwind of Reactors, 2 Years before vs. 6 Years after Nuclear Plant Closings Year Infant deaths Live births Reactor Closed BC AC BC AC LaCrosse, Wl 1987 7 17 3,507 10,302
Rancho Seco, CA 1989 90 228 44,500 144,770 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 1989 20 52 9,725 30,129 Trojan, OR 1992 61 123 30,320 92,649 Totals for 4 areas 1718 420 88,052 277,850 U.S. average for 6-yr change 1986-1998 Deaths/1,000 Change (%) Reactor BC AC Local Other state LaCrosse, WI 2.00 1.65 -17.5 -7.7 Rancho Seco, CA 2.02 1.57 -22.3 -17.4 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 2.06 1.73 -16.0 -14.3 Trojan, OR 2.01 1.33 -34.0 -4.9 Totals for4areas 2.02 1.51 -25.2* -14.8 U.S. average for
- 6-yr change -10.9 Notes: BC: 2 yr before closing reactor, AC = 6 yr after closing reactor, WI = Wisconsin, CA = California, CO = Colorado, and OR = Oregon.
p < .02 (nuclear counties vs. U.S.), and p < .08 (nuclear counties vs. other state totals). The Trojan trend was significantly different from those for U.S. (p < .03) and for other state (p < .006). Table 8.--Change in "All Causes" Death Rates of Infants during Their First Year of Life and Who Were Located 64-129 km Downwind of Reactors, 2 Years before vs. 2 Years after Nuclear Plant Closings Year Infant deaths Live births Reactor Closed BC AC BC AC LaCrosse, WI 1987 13 14 1,570 1,467 Rancho Seco, CA 1989 67 101 9,637 10,426 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 1989 33 28 3,347 3,229 Trojan, OR 1992 9 11 1,605 1,608 Big Rock Pt., MI 1997 5 16 1,131 1,180 Maine Yankee, ME 1997 7 7 1,778 1,762 Pilgrim, MA 1986 No data: Atlantic Ocean is downwind Millstone, CT 1995 312 285 53,078 51,247 Totals for 8 areas z446 462 72,146 70,890 Deaths/1,000 Reactor BC Al Change(%) LaCrosse, WI 8.28 9.54 +15.3 ! Rancho Seco, CA 6.95 9.68 +39.3 (p <.01) Ft. St. Vrain, CO 9.86 8.67 -21.1 Trojan, OR 5.61 6.84 +22.0 Big Rock Pt., MI 4.42 13.56 +206.8 Maine Yankee, ME 3.94 3.97 +0.8 Pilgrim, MA area Millstone, CT 5.88 5.56 -5.4 Totals for 8 areas 6.18 6.52 +5.4 Notes: BC = 2 yr before closing reactor, AC: 2 yr after closing reactor, WI = Wisconsin, CA: California, CO = Colorado, OR = Oregon, MI = Michigan, ME = Maine, MA = Massachusetts, and CT = Connecticut.
Counties included Buffalo (Wisconsin), Jackson (Michigan), Trempealeau (Wisconsin)--LaCrosse reactor; Douglas (Nevada), Lyon (Nevada), Story (Nevada), Washoe (Nevada)--Rancho Seco reactor; Albany (Wyoming), Laramie (Wyoming)--Fort St. Vrain reactor; Hood River (Oregon), Wasco (Oregon), Pacific (Washington)--Trojan reactor; Alpena (Michigan), Montmorency (Michigan), Presque Isle (Michigan)--Big Rock Point reactor; Franklin (Maine), Somerset (Maine)--Maine Yankee reactor; Norfolk (Massachusetts), Worcester (Maine), Providence (Rhode Island)--Millstone reactor. Table 9.--Change in "All Causes": Death Rates of infants during Their First Year of Life and Who Were Located < 64 km--and Not Downwind--from Reactors, 2 Years before vs. 2 Years after Nuclear Plant Closings Year Infant deaths Live births Reactor Closed BC AC BC AC LaCrosse, WI 1987 57 - 63 7,431 7,176 Rancho Seco, CA 1989 310 324 36,944 40,073 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 1989 537 530 58,790 59,923 Trojan, OR 1992 66 73 11,826 12,296 Big Rock Pt., MI 1997 13 12 2,184 2,288 Maine Yankee, ME 1997 45 37 9,254 8,990 Pilgrim, MA 1986 579 528 57,466 60,619 Millstone, CT 1995 637 555 86,642 83,920 Totals for 8 areas 2,244 2,122 270,537 275,285 Deaths/1,000 Reactor BC AC Change (%) LaCrosse, WI 7.67 8.78 +14.4 Rancho Seco, CA 8.39 8.09 -3.6 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 9.13 8.84 -3.2 Trojan, OR 5.58 5.94 + 6.4 Big Rock Pt., MI 5.95 5.24 -11.9 Maine Yankee, ME 4.86 4.12 -15.4 Pilgrim, MA 10.08 8.71 ý13.6 Millstone, CT 7.35 6.61 -10.0 Totals for 8 areas 8.29 7.71 -7.1 Notes: BC = 2 yr before closing reactor, AC = 2 yr after closing reactor, WI = Wisconsin, CA = California, CO = Colorado, OR = Oregon, MI = Michigan, ME = Maine, MA = Massachusetts, and CT = Connecticut. Counties included Allamakee (Iowa), Clayton (Iowa), Winnishiek (Iowa), Fillmore (Minnesota), Houston (Minnesota), Winona (Minnesota), Crawford (Wisconsin), Grant (Wisconsin), Monroe (Wisconsin), Richland (Wisconsin)-LaCrosse reactor; San Joaquin (California), Solano (California), Sutter (California), Yolo (California)--Rancho Seco reactor; Adams. (Colorado), Arapahoe (Colorado), Boulder (Colorado), Gilpin (Colorado), Grand (Colorado), Jefferson (Colorado)--Fort St. Vrain reactor; Clatsop (Oregon), Washington (Oregon)--Trojan reactor;. Grand Traverse (Michigan), Leelanau (Michigan)--Big Rock Point reactor; Androscoggin (Maine), Cumberland (Maine), Sagadahoc (Maine)--Maine Yankee reactor; Barnstable (Massachusetts), Bristol (Massachusetts), Dukes (Massachusetts), Norfolk (Massachusetts), Suffolk (Massachusetts), Bristol (Rhode Island), Newport (Rhode Island)--Pilgrim reactor; and Hartford (Connecticut), New Haven (Connecticut), and Suffolk (New York)--Millstone reactor. Table 10.--Changes in the Incidence Rates of Ail Cancers during the
First 5 Yr of Life of Children Who Lived in Counties that Were Downwind 64 km from Closed Nuclear Plants at 2 Years before vs. 7 Years after Closure of Reactors Year Cancer closed cases (n) Reactor permanently BC AC LaCrosse, Wl 1987 7 15 Rancho Seco, CA 1989 50 153 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 1989 10 32 Total for 3 areas 67 200 U.S. change 1988-1989 to 1990-1996 Population 0-4 yr of age Cases/100,000 Reactor BC AC BC AC LaCrosse, W I 17,492 61,053 40.02 24.57 Rancho Seco, CA 208,302 854,118 24.00 17.91 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 49,156 178,742 20.34 17.90 Total for 3 areas 274,950 1,093,913 24.36 18.28 U.S. change Change(%) Reactor Local Other state
- LaCrosse, Wl -38.6 -5.1 Rancho Seco, CA -25.4 -1.0 Ft. St. Vrain, CO 12.0 +32.9 Total for 3 areas -25.0 ([dagger]) -0.5 U.S. change +0.3 Notes: BC: 2 yr before the reactor was closed, AC = 7 yr after the reactor was closed, WI = Wisconsin, CA = California, and CO = Colorado.
"Other" category for Colorado includes Denver area (i.e., Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties),
approximately 55% of the state's population 0-4 yr of age. ([dagger]) p < .005 (nuclear counties vs. U.S.), and p < .006 (nuclear counties vs. other state total). Rancho Seco trend differed significantly from trends from U.S. (p < .02) and other state (p < .004). Submitted.June 5, 2001; revised; accepted for publication November 23, 2001. Request for reprints should be sent to Joseph J. Magano, M.P.H., M.B.A., National Coordinator, Radiation and Public Health Project, 786 Carroll Street, #9, Brooklyn, NY 11215. References (1.) Friedman MS, Powell KE, Hutwagner L, et al. Impact of changes in transportation and commuting behaviors during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta on air quality and childhood asthma. JAMA 2001; 285(7):897-905.
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(19.) Sperling K, Pelz J, Wegner RD, et al. Frequency of trisomy 21 in Germany before and after the Chernobyl accident. Biomed Pharmacothemapeutics 1991; 45:255-62. (20.) Ramsay CN, Ellis PM, Zealley H. Down's syndrome in the Lothian region of Scotland--1978 to 1989. Biomedical Pharmacotherapeutics 1991; 45:267-72.
(21.) Lie RT, Irgens LM, Skjaerven R, et al. Birth defects in Norway by levels of external and food-based exposure to radiation from Chernobyl. Am J Epidemiol 1992; 136:377-88. (22.) Johnson CJ. Cancer incidence in an area contaminated with radionuclides near a nuclear installation. Ambio 1981; 10:176-82. (23.) Goldsmith J. Nuclear installations and childhood cancer in the UK: mortality and incidence for 0-9-year-old children 1971-1980. Sci Total Environ 1992; 127:13-35. (24.) Jab[on S, Hrubec Z, Boice J. Cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities. JAMA 1991; 265:1403- -08. (25.) Stewart A, Webb J, Hewitt D. A survey of childhood malignancies. Br Med J 1958; :1495-1508. (26.) Kazakov VS, Demidchid EP, Astakhova LN. Thyroid cancer after Chernobyl. Nature 1992; 359:21. (27.) Likhtarev IA, Sobolev BG, Kairo IA, et al. Thyroid cancer in the Ukraine. Nature 1995; 375:365. (28.) Stsjakhko VA, Tsyb AF, T'onko ND, et al. Childhood thyroid cancer since the accident at Chernobyl. Br Med J 1995; 310:801. (29.) Jablon S, Hrubec Z, Boice JD, et al. Cancer in Populations Living Near Nuclear Facilities. Washington, DC" U.S. Government Printing Office, 1990; vol 2, NIH publication no 90-874. (30.) Stokke T, Oftedal P, Pappas A. Effects of small doses of radioactive strontium on the rat bone marrow. Acta Radiologica 1968; 7:321-29. (31.) Klusek CS. Strontium-90 in Human Bone in the U.S., 1982. New York: Environmental Measurements Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, 1984. (32.) Gould JM, Sternglass EJ, Sherman JD, et al. Strontium-90 in deciduous teeth as a factor in early childhood cancer. Intl J Health Services 2000; 30:515-39. JOSEPH J. MANGANO JAY M. GOULD ERNEST J. STERNGLASS JANETTE D. SHERMAN JERRY BROWN WILLIAM McDONNELL Radiation and Public Health Project Brooklyn, New York
Learning Disabilities Statistics by Penn State Graduate Students - 2002 Source: Montgomery County intermediate Unit (LU 23) was compared to (LU 17) Statewide Statistics: Pennsylvania Department of Education http://ed.hbg.psu.edu/documments/PennDataBooks/S pecialEducation Census Figures: 1990 and 2000 http://www.census.gov/prod/cenl990/dpl/2kh42 Autism: Several websites including: naar.org, exploringautism.org, nich.nih.gib/autism and Naar 1990. to 2000 Montgomery County + 94 % Increase Montgomery County Increase Is DOUBLE the State Increase Pennsylvania + 46.6 % Increase Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Is Located In Montgomery County Could Limerick Nuclear Power Plant's Daily Routine Radiation Emissions, Plus Accidental Releases, Into The Air, Water, and Soil, Be One Major Factor For Shocking Montgomery County Learning DisabilityIncreases, Double The State Average? 1990 to 2000 Learning Disabilities have RISEN THREEFOLD in Montgomery County in Comparison To Population (1990 to 2000) 1990 to 2000 Total Enrollment in Montgomery County Schools Down 10.9 % Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Total Enrollment + 32.7 % Montgomery County - Learning Impairment Services + 32.7 % Least Polluted Counties Learning Impairment Services. + 1% 1990 to 2000 -ADDIADHD and Autism Montgomery County ADDIADHD + 32.7 % Montgomery County Autism + 310 %
CHILDREN In Ha~rm's Way.
" Harm 's way:
Toxic Threats To Child Development" Published by Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility Available On Line and Downloadable in PDF format at: http://www.igc.org/psr/ psrnatl@psr.org (202) 898-0150 This Report Links Toxic Exposures During Early Childhood To Lifelong Disabilities
-n luding .
LEARNING DISABILITIES ADD/ADHD, ReducedlIQ, Poorly-Controlled Aggression RADIATION one of the most harmful chemicals to fetuses and children Since 1985, From Routinfe Operations,
- Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Has Released: Radiation ,
Into Our Air, Water, -and Soil
Orcr TUESV
~pember 24, 20 0
Isarea's c.hid cahncer rate too high ACE: 'We were
-"We were shocked when we saw shocked'when. we those, figures," said ACE activist Donna Cuthbertd ;
Her :hsband, , CEPresident Lewis.. Saw the results' Cuthbert, added, "Wewere most upset when we: realized how much the statis-A (CHILD CANCER RATE from Alý of.Berks, Chester and Montgomery Coiunties, By Evn Brendt . .tics realized -o1r children- are being. For example, the cancer rate per But-.that conclusion was based on ebrandt@pottsimerc.com Iexpose4d and poisoned. Our children. .100,000 people:in the same siX-town spreading .the statistics across all age depend on us to protect them, and we area dropped to 17.4 percent above the --. sprea ndinh iat nIt icsk At all angers POTTSTOWN - Child cancer rates have to'do a better job," national rate when you look at adults ...-gro. ,b a dls, otlook ,,allcacers, a t n the Pottstown area are nearly -00 'The percentages of children's cancer buasvea selected types-of cancer,
)ercent higher than rates for Jthe age .20 to 44. From age, 45 to 54,*the -that study, which looked'at the pert.
in the -past fi6e years boll down to 22 six-town rate Is 18 percent above'. 'the o, odi from 1990 1994, toato " fou nd chil-found a hig nation, the: state and the remainder of- :cases, '13 "ofwhich were leukemia and I : .- 1 .. nm er90 1 "9 national rate, percent higher the trin-ounty area, according to"an seven of which were cancers of the And by the time you get to resident drun's cancer rate 51 analysis of cancer statistics released brain or the central nervous system, over the statistics 55, actually in this six-town "*nthats of tourr-ouding coties, Monday. That works out to a rate of 30.88 '.area are 6.9 percent areaareactully6.8 ercnt below blowthe the. ,,,a......d but it wasstatistically based on too few' cases to hbe sgiiatb A statistical analysis of data from the cancer cases per 100,000 people in that U,S,. rate according to Mangano'sV ju sta l significant by the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry by age group. The U.S. rate for cancers of analysis. .*.county. Joseph J3: Mangano shows that among: the'same'age group is 16.04 cases per ecus Tha.s ... :nas :orema becausemore percent 4 than 880 prcn Further,
...*,., '...
akdjusted rates like ,study Mangano's added, in the .county area residents 194and younger, the inci- 100,000. of . ... age. c*an*erotudy"can after sky.! r1ate be theo, unt leinformative," dence of cancer from 1995 to,1999 was ' The rates In the "remainder of the 55,.cancer So While the diagnosed cases arenumber of cases but 92.5 percent higher than the national tri-county area and the state are actual- - "the large proportion of-cancer cases rate for the same. age group. rocketed among the older age groups unusual Mangano, who is affiliated:wlth the ly below the national level, ineaning the all the way up to 1,050 new cases in. among the elderly may mask groups." problem Inthe area is probably a local- five years for people over 55 - that's :.patterns among younger Radiation and Public Health Project in Ized one," Mangano wrote in the actually about average In the United Unusual patterns were also evideni New York, looked at the state's statis- report. States for a similar population. in-iterms of breast cancer, which was tics for residents of Pottstown borough, Interestingly, as thi age groups into And this may account for the fact ,,not.: Included In the Montgomer3 West Pottsgrove, Upper. Pottsgrove, which the study clustered people rose Lower Pottsgrove, North Coventry and that an often-criticized cancer study of"Co6unty -health study.
- and the actual number of cancer According to Mangano's analysis Douglass (Berks) townships, cases went up as well - the percentages the same six towns, conducted in 1998 He conducted the study at the request actually fell, by the Montgomery County Health, the rate for women age 30 to 44 beini of the Alliance for a Clean 'Department showed only a 6 percent diagnosed with- breast cancer in the six Environment, better known as ACE, (See CHILD CANCER RATES on A3) cancer rate for the area above the rest , municipality area Is51A4 percent higher
-which released the results ata press con-' fpoepn ot PMaswnm MiMdl 54.Qhnni
(hrlk Loc al The Mercury if s oui on tlhe [N.b - -. 1 A
, September 24, '['i~sesdnl s area's child cancer rate to high than the national rate. That rate was shows oan. increase of one case per .- ý- .-.par-for the unnerving health statistics, generated by 31 cases out of 6,013 Ieo- 100i000 each year, meaning 7,5 people ticularly among children, pie Inthat age group. In -Montgomery 'County will develop -"All children- In th'e': natlon are Intotal 263 Women in the six-town brain cancer, this year,. exposed to the same kinds of pollution region were diagnosed with breast can* -Andthe rate has almost double in .- cars,, pesticides, household-: 6hemri-cer Infive years, five years from 5.8 per 100000 in 1995 cls, smoking in the -home, -heredity,"
ACE also releasied othei statistics as to 10.08 per 100,000 in 1999. " said Donna Cuthbert, the result of work done by .another I Couch's students also looked at ."What's different about our children
.group graduate students from Penn Slearning disabilities and found that here Is the chemical plague they are State University who analyzed .tatis, while total enrollment In Montgomery exposed to in this toxic triangle, where
- tics under the direction of Steven County schools was down 10.9 -percent we are put In danger from the
".Couch, Ph,D. from 1990 to 2000, the Montgomery ' Occidental Chemical plant, the nuclear Couch is a,professor of sociology County Intermediate Unit has seen a power plant and the landfill," she said, who runs a small master's program on 94-pereent increase In the number of Contending that "children are. the community psychology and social students with learning disabilities, barometers of our society's ihealth," .
.hange at Penn State's Capital College ACE sald,that the fact that childhood
,ilsabilities 46.6, percent, in. learning is ýthelncrease Statewide, - i cancer rates are 1hgh Isan Indicator of
..That analysis showed that while:the Rates of attention deficit dlisrder how bad pollution,is in the area,.
rates of brain. doaner In "Pennsylvania -.and attention deficit and *.9rt. "Because the developing fetus, Infant and Tioga County, chosen as a .'com. didsorder have'risen 32.7 ercent in that and child are most susceptible to the parlson county, have remained relative. "period, and the rate of autim, in harmful effects of pollutants, child-ly stable, Montgomery County's rate is Montoomerv CountQhas jumped by hood cancer is often a key indicator of IMonteomerv ranks second In 3310 percent, the Penn State study con- any potential hazards," said a release cluded. Pennsy-vania forbrain cancer. cases per .The statistics Indicate, according to handed out at the press conference, "Enough excuses, enough blaming the 100,000 in counties with. more than ACE and the, authors of the studies, victim," said Lewis Cuthbert. "We can. 60,000 people. The Penn State analysis that pollution I the most likely cause. not lifestyle ourselves out of this crisis."
- i'"
Toxic Chemicals Seen Contributing To June 1Z 2002 Increased Childhood illness WASHINGTON (Cox News Service) - Although death rates front many: types of cancer are falling, the reported incidence of cancer and other diseases among-Amedca's children'is rising, pediatricians said Tuesday. '
- Too little Is known about possible relationihips between childhood disease and an'environmental "soup".,of thousands of mostly untested industrial -chrnlicals that didn't even exist a half-cantiuryago they: said.
"There are 85,000 chemicals registered with the Environmental Proteclioh Agency for commercial use in America," said Dr. Philip Landrigan, director of the Center for Children'sflealth and the Environment at MountL§SInaiSchool of Medicine in New York. Virtually all of them did not exist before the 1960a and most have not been sufficiently tested for their effect on human beings. he added. Landrigan said he was not "such a Luddite" to argue that all chemicals are bad, citing as valuabWe substances penicillin'arid the spray-can penetrating oil, WD-40, which he jokingly said has been called "tie basic liquid of modern civilization." However, he said the rush to develop and embrace new chemicals has left adequate testing behind. Only about 43 percent of roughly 3.000 "high-produclon-wiolume" chemicals were found to have been tested In a 1998 analysie, he said.
"There has been a real failure of regulatory oversight In that we've allowed many thousands ofchemicals to be commercialized without adequately testing them," Landdigan said.
Landrigen and Dr. Herbert J. Needleman, the University of Pittsburgh researcher who has been credited with exposing the chronic intelligence-robbing Impact of environmental lead poisoning, said they hoped through a sedes of newspaper advertisements, public appearances and an Internet page to stimulate a public demand for more understanding of toxic chemicals on human health.'. Full-page ads In The New York Times are being financed by a grant of $400,000 from the Rockefeller Family Fund, Landrigan said. The need to better understand the impact of individual chemicals, as well as "synergletid' effect of combined exposures, Is urgent, both' physidan-researchers said at a press conference. .
"Untold numbers of children have paed a price for our sluggishness In getting rid of lead' in gasoline, said Needreman.
Landrigan said that when he wasin medical school, cancer Inchildren was "always fatal, and you just trled to keep them around for a year or two, to give the parents time to adjust to reality." Now, he said, from 3.5 to 40 percent -of children with brain cancer cýn be cured through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, end an even, greater.p.oportlon of childhood leukemia victims are cured.
"But cancer remains the largest cause of disease death among children and the overall Incidence has steadily risen," he said.
There.has been a 25 percent rise In the incidence of chilldhood eukemia since the i 960s and a 21 percent Increase in brain cancer.-
"Our knowledge of what'qsgong on here Is Incomplete,' hweaid.;"Mlla we have focused on treating cancer we have not kept our eyes on the causes."
In addition to cancercausing sub~stacaa -,Landigar, r"edocrina warned"of disrupting'" chemicals', which he said may be linked to premature puberty In glils, growing numbersf testiculir.cancer in boys and penis malformation in a condition known as hypospadia. The last condition has doubled, from approximately 40 incidents per 10,000 live boy births to around 80 Incidents per 10.000 births In Atlanta between 1968 and 1983, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
.'It's time In the United States that we begin to take deliberate action (regarding toxic chemicals)," he sald. "During the first few years of the chemical revolution, we were carded along with enthusiasm. Now we knowthare is a downside. Shame on us If we don't do the necessary tests."
Gopyrfght 2002 COX NnGW9SWJkIL Source.,IY koleh~p7tIW.5t W3O.~~1i ...
AS I 'liesday. Mach 4. 2003 1*1 STATE/NATION EPA moves to protect kids from chemicals By H. Josef ttebett mental pollution has been an icantly more .dangerous to fetuses when the mother ix Associated Pess WIfter question veexg the EPA for yomung children. exposed, the EPA guidance coan WAS qINGTON - The gov- yem. This would be the frst -They cause a 10 times greater cluded. It said children from einment proposed tougher time the EPA has proposed for- rsk of a faturp cancer in chil- to 15 may face a risk at it-guidelines Monday for evfiuat- mallR.. takiiii inito account the dren under 2 Years old and in three times greater than adudt. ing cancer risks to chidreit On diffncs betwn eposum to gurunds the veryyoung may be an adult.and a biby or toddler 10 times more vulnerable than m assessing cancer risks. adults to certain cheicl & The minal guidelines afe to be
.The guidellnes,.wheit made 6revewed by the EPA science Inal after a review 1by the- adyry boad in* May, wilth a Environmental Protection . al dmocumet -to be issued by EPA Admits:
Agency's science . advisory' Sw er: said Bill.Farlan.(the boad, would dramatibally ahtr" EPA's. acting depty assistant Fetuses and Children under 2 current agency policy, which- .administrator forscience. assames cancer riskh to a fetus bThEPA alo rvealed broad- Can be 10 Times' or an infant are ni greater than.' er., guidance Monda'y that More Vulnerable Than Adults, fora simila0Cy"poseddiL adu ttlt1tmpta. to renme and mak& For the tim`e "being, the more precse how EPA~sientists To Mutagenic Toxic Chemicals incicased scrutiffty would be lira- evaluate cancer risks -when iled to, assessing h .gmuup of deciding how to regulate a chem- Children 3 to 15 che-mucals that damage a.per-. icaL: The .new guidance. would Son's genes by causing them to recommend that sciihditi Can be 3 Times More Vulnerable routt~ie so that cancer nji fom greater weight to the. latest sci-more easily later in lil ."Among ence and try to deielop a more these are some pesticides as completl pictnr, said Faland." well as i number of cheinicals . But the EPA viewed-the ques-freccd in combustionl oi used tion oj tdrte diildenm s . in Ow. making orplestics.. :nntthatttiscid*! t.develop 31i1 agency said that i more aleparate, guidance information is daloped, other* .. (if cancer to itg paperon cancer-causing pollutants, not assuming m r the andfir~t time that toddlMg afo those that -cause genie muta- fbfses inLFS tions, may also be brought sutbstantiallybit.vid*mthcble. under the new guidelines if they Limiting its analysis, for the are rutnd to pose heightened riskn ton chlden time bein" to mu mtagenicc chemic, risk to children.. cals, or those that caure gene f1ow to assess cancer risk to mutations, ýthe EPA seaid ge the very young from environ- sure to these chemicas is sigfif-
TOOTH FAIRY PRESS CONFERENCE
.Nov. 19, 2003 Held By: . --
Pottstow~n Mayor Jone~s '~ Alliance For A Clean Environment' JOSEPH MANGANO, RADIATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH P ROJECT DIRECT ANNOUNCMENT Of RPHP RESEARCH RESULTS' RADIATION IN THE BABY TEETH OF CHILDREN AROUND LIMERICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AND HOW THAT COMPARES WITH OTHER NUCLEAR FACILITIES. Ma ontgomery'County-Community College-RPHP has 'been studying levels of radioactive Strontium-90 in baby teeth for several years.
" Sr-90 is a chemical only produced by atomic bomb explosions and nuclear reactor operations. " It is chemically similar to calcium; thus, when it is ingested by breathing or the food chain, it attaches to bone and teeth, where it remains for a lifetime. " Sr-90 presents a risk factor for all cancers and immune diseases, as it can penetrate into the bone marrow, where the white blood cells crucial to the immune system are formed.
The RPHP presentation will cover the followinq regional baby tooth results:
- The average level of Sr-90 in about 100 baby teeth from the regioin around the Limerick nuclear reactors will be compared with other areas near reactors.
- The trend in Sr-90 in baby teeth over the past 20 years will be analyzed.
- A comparison of trends in Sr'90 in baby teeth and .childhood cancer rates will be made.
The above information Will be published in the medical journal, The Science of the Total Environment, in January 2004., RPHP will also announce its latest effort in its study of baby teeth. RPHP is making an appeal for donations of baby teeth from children with cancer, .and is comparing Sr-90 averages in teeth of children with and without cancer. RPHP will appeal for baby tooth donations from local children who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Date: 11-17-03 To: From: Alliance For A Clean Environment (ACE) Pottstown, PA..
Contact:
Dr. Lewisor Dohna -Cuthbert (610) 326-6433 or (610) 326-2387 Tooth Fairy Research Results Reported November 19 1:30 P.M.N': Montgomery County Commun'ity College, College Drive, Pottstown FIND OUT HOW MUCH STRONTIUM-90 RADIATION IS IN THE BABY TEETH OF CHILDREN WHO LIVE. AROUND THE LIMERICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT Agenda
- 1. Dr. Lewis Cuthbert, ACE.President Overview - Regional Involvement in Tooth Fairy Project The Toxic Triangle - Third Exposure Route Confirmiied
- 2. Joseph Mangano - National Director, Radiation and Public Health Project Reporting Results of Strontium 90 Radiation-Levels In Baby Teeth Collected Around the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant and compared to Strontium 90 levels in baby teeth around other nuclear power plants.
- 3. Pottstown Mayor Anne Jones Greater Pottstown Area Children - Support for this kind of research and callifor prevention and -solutions - relationship to Pottstown Landfill expansion.
Appeal for Baby Teeth, especially for children with cancer and in areas closest tb, and in the-predominant wind patterns from, the Limerick Nuclear Plant, including Limerick Linfield, Schwenksville, Spring City, East Coventry Phoenixville, Trappe, Collegeville, Royersford..
- 4. Aaron Holden- Owen J. Roberts student Who, lives near the Limerick Nuclear Plant A personal view of his battle with cancer --Need to prevent unnecessary exposure risks which can cause cancer - Support for the Tooth Fairy Research' Project.-
- 5. Dr. Lewis Cuthbert - ACE Plan For Prevention and Solutions
he .. ForHdme Delvery, call 610 '970 ',4500 Wednesday, November in, 2003 1.11""73*, T results-expeted from Tooth Fairy ProJect
!EVd6 nt Montgomery County , Community higher; according to the'report. -
ebr*rdtptse,*;colf ' College campus InPottstown, ItIs~open The study says the ageof the teeth Is
.. ,, to sigificant siegpubc,. because. the ftrst unit . o0 POTTSTOV X ,. W.
.- eTboth A' "of tii6 report'wos obtained -whatis niw Txelon Nuclear's Limerick
-Fairy coines~o t"O::d.,; thl* o,h,!:he, 'ues.!ud.fayby i.MWroury -and a.review Generating.Station began operations in won't be brling'4qodltev'us:' "gst~ the results o-nwthe study are 19$4 and the pecnd uit.In .1989.
Joseph Mangano, national director . Further, there ar6 11 other operating
- of the. Radiation" and" Public Health . he level of the Isotope in th6 95 nuclear reactors wlthlni'80 miles of Project, will beIn town to announce ile baby teeth from Montgomer, Berks Pottstown. "
results oof a study .that looked fdi "tanid Chester. ountles.for'children born '. The substande being studied is called radioactive Isotbpe in baby teeth of aft*r9791s 34 peroent higher than the strontlum.90 and, according to the. ci ch.ilren.. , ... rs oft*,,ns, ,*,a, the report says. report, Is one of 100 d*lffefent radioac-. The-reportwtll-be-explinedindetaU'. Evewore.'.the average li teeth tive Isotopes produced only .by atom at a 1i30 p'm. press conference at: the-, from Pottstown children Is 62 percent (SeeTPOoFAIRY _PhOJECT nAM)
A4 I THE MERCURY, Wednesday, November 19, 2003 LOCAL Grim results expected from Tooth Fairy Project (TOOTH FAlRY PROJECE from AI) . Childhood cancer mortality Although there appears. to b. bombs, nuclear submarines and percent in Montgomery County rose 30 a four-year lag between hiaheliv-nuclear reactors. from the 1980s through pls of sirontium990 and high the: 1990s, Each: of-these. suistances is percent reduction. compared to a 22 rates of childhood cancer, -te carcinoge* aM decays at dif- in the state study note's "When Sg-i90 ferent tates. 'What makes stron- and nation, according to the increased, there wasan 'in rease tium-90, a good. substance to, report. in cancer incidenceo'uiryears-study is its long ihalf-life;- 2817 :'Some of Mangano's figures later." years, and the fact .that it had come under' fire, but last 'Officials at the* Exeilo behaves in a manner similar. to week.the Pennsylvania Health-Department released. its own Nuclear's Limerick Generating-calcium and adheres to.bonek - Station, as well as government So the -aptly named Too'th- comparison -ofthe same statis- officials at the , Nuclear Fairy Project collects babytth tics and confirmed many of Regulatory Commission, have saved byparents andtests them' Mangano s findings, such as long argued that the low levels for strontium-90.. higher rates of breast cancer, c has. "brain of radiation emitted-by properly Nationally, :the proje, '1s cancer and leukemia. operating nuclear power plants collected more than a4,000.baby However; state- officials are too low to be -".cause for teeth,, mostly from children intoned the. -sam-el cauition as alarm.' born since the mid-l980s living- others- whoa haie disputed But Mangano's group_ argues close, to one or- more nuclear Mangano's -statistics, atgaing -that's what doctors used to say reactors, according to the that.the overall number of local about things like exposureto X-report. cases beig compared is too: rays and other low.doses of radi-" Levels of the isotope, which small a samnple from which to were high during the -1950s draw "That was- until studies .roved. cdlusion*a: reliable
". :.statistical con- otherwise. .
when above-gr-omunid nicear "The above r-es--t sugest bomb testing was com , are. -A previous study conducted by Mangano's group in Suffolk" that cunent-tactor emissions - on the rise again in the 1990s,. County, not according to the report Long Island, 'near the bomboldtestsfh*kui'ttdin f Nevada' s950s and
'Brookhaven Nuclear Plant, And results from the..100 *showed a "nearly identical": 1960s - account for a substan-baby teeth submitted from increase in incidences of child- tial proportion of radioactivity Berks, Chester - and, hood -- a,cf- and "increases in iin bodiesof local children," the Montgomery counties. show the stotinm-90 fouind inbaby report concludes.
local levels of stronthim-90 to be teeth-above both the state and nation- Nationally,'the center has col-al average, the highest level lected 95 teeth. from children being in Pottstown:: itself, with cancer and has tested 61 of according to the'study`. them. Results show the average The study takes things a step level of strontium-90 in the teeth further.. 'of children with caucer. is 50 Because strontium-90 is a percent higher, than in'teeth knowni carcinogen, Mangano's taken from children withou6t study also looks at cancer rates cancer.:. in the area. -An, analysis of baby teeth Preliminary . results- of from the Pottstown area, com-Mangano's examination -ofcdn- pared to cancer statistics for the cer statistics, were released earli- same area, -suggests. a link er by theAlliance for a Clean- between radiationand cancer in Environment,-which is sponsor- Berks, . . Chester'-; and ing today's press conference.. Montgomery county children," They showed a. cancer rate according to the study.,. amongchildren to be-94 petcent "Teeth fro childen With
-higher in th. td-c6uit.. area cancer living, in the Limerick-than national, state and regional .arealwill e'sough the near rates. futuire, the report notes'.'
- $
- ACE: A Sdy shows potertial link' to radiation, cancer By John Gentzel jgentzel@pottsmrerc corn POTrSTOWN- Aaron Holden knows what it's like to be young and have cancer.
The Owen J.Roberts High School student was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, and missed lots of.school. And in the
, process, Holden said he lost many friends.
Those classmates who would talk to him A "were afraid of catching cancer," he said. Many in the community; including the members of the Alliance for a Clean Environment, believe that Holden is an unfortunate casualty of living inside what it calls the toxi ngle surrounding Pottstown. ... The triangle is comprised of the toxic emissions. coming from-Occidental Chemical in Lower Pottsgrove and the Pottstown Landfill in West Pottsgrove,"and the radia-tion from Exelon Nuclears Limekick
-NIM - ,WW-* Generating Station. And this combination of pollutants'is whyACE anid other environ-gzg . .- ,mental activists believe the Pottstown area has significantly higher cases of certain types
* -- - *-S- of cancer, including those affecting children.
- .:On Wednesday, Joseph Mangano, national
-- director of the Radiation and Public Health SProject discussed the'results of a study that Daniel P.Creighton/The Mercu'ry local activists believe reaffirm existence of Jared Grater, 7, and his sister, Brooke Grater :4, entertain them' the toxic triangle.
selves with coloring books as Joe Mangano, national director for The aptlytitled Tooth:Fairy Project looks at the Radiatinn and Pubhic i*_*alth Prn n nor _=c -h' rAc fcmf the levels of a radioactive isotope in the baby a baby tooth study-for the Pottstown area. (See TOOTH FAFRY PROJECT on A3)
ACE:: St d shows 'potential link' into c triangle to radiation, cancer (TOOTH FAIRY PROJECT from Al) ronmental testing to make-sure all The results show the-cancer emissions are consistent or lower-than teeth of children:across the countrY So p-.Properational bacy°'gr d leves and far, Mangano said, nearly 4,000 teeth rate in Pottstown area children to be- 94 percnt with al.t- n eeal reg-have been studied nationally, including higher than
*"hiper than the , ;-*cmplýiant ulations.-The information them*at' onat,.if!il-*}ei disii:.?e as available many in the Pottstown area.. tot~public, and .is'rvee by -the The levelof the isotope i. ciestion* state 'and regional-rAtes.; Nular -guaory-onisss0 n strontium-90, in the 95 ,baby-.eeth-C-o!-
lected in conmimunities in the Pottsto-wn. average more childie'Jiv acrýhiw~ultepant"hashe area from children bor after 1979 is heret*,p~h A _saidq 34 percent higher than the rest of Pennsylvania, the,. study says. Even worse, the average in teeth from here tha f anye er~else.is tenskept e.s &eerint oufnthe radioactieisiosreae 1tiii by~t maeayrasnble Pottstown children is 62 percent high- ., .s. and fresiha small s*pip. of thi'-opui-according the report.. er,Because ,le hbombs]i e p subma strontiam-90 nuclear s m - a nlyo95 of the millions. 6fpeo!ea carcinogen,. .Mangano's isstudyalmown also tested abatqe :gr'd*-d the.0
*e *e,.A na tus nis to looked at cancer rates in the area, The and the levdelcef atrnd ýohas ii**
i-90 nCcontrol tgroup or streuts results show the canicer rate. in. increased, Mangano s5*Frehaid th v e nlikeay1oth areasgwayjiqy - "p .l " Pottstown area children to be 94 per- cause of the increasenis the nationr SThis i atiIcarypestg n the te cent higher than the natiofid4 state and nuclear power plants. fresults pres ante Wrerdesdayaisa regional rates. LisaWasha , sp e 197swoman for teiethesa ld'studieseconducted. fro The . information -represenfs" a Exelon Nuclear's Limerick: Generaing ommunhties to- 'd rorkodge.lear "potential link" between radiation and Station, said officials were ta reiillar-with plant,. iCudintga "inPottstown cancer, and ACE President;. Lewis the study. She argued th V latIinfoi0-, aonye. And, opponentsargue, whe the Cuthbert said they were advocating the tibia has "never been subs -tanid by - 1ees mays"em hi -h, they might be
- -closing of the landfill and the opposi- -tiffic evidence" ands oyenius to 'comparableto levelsof strontium-go tion of reneving Limerick Generating ananti-nuclearoagend'th asupport found, in the 4bby teeth of children in Station'soperating permit. Washak said a comprehensive envi- other areas.
."It has now been confirmed that' xonmental study was iconducted beforel- 'Still, the results, r tgeigeog they are also atý risk from Limerick's conistruction' of0 'th1"e Limerick' for many to want fuirther explanations.
radiation,' Pottstown Mayor Anne Generatn Staton in the 1970s to -provided and studies c~onductedt. Jones said at the press conference. "We ..determine :'what elemns wer.e -in' the "We need to work toge.ther starting now know, that radiation gets into the air, grun nd water 'Since both r'eac- today,' Cuthbert s'aid "We'dnthv bodies of our children. That our chil- tors started 6peratirfg in the late 1980s, any expendable children that we're will-dren are far more vulnerable. 'That -the: facility constantly monitors its ing'to give over to those polluters and there is no safe exposure -And-that on releases and -conduc6ts thorough envi- have them wind up as victims"
I i The VftitaMpfiia Itiquirtr
.Ci..ty&Rgion SATURDAY, JANUARY 13,2001 is , TI!.~.~ DIIIT A Il'T T.ITTA TM TITDTPD AIt V~ ",li*.rll/ I t-JLfI-I I[~lUldl A request for baby teeth, to check radiation levels Montgomery County families are asked to join a study' Suffolk County, N.Y., 'showed such they were inthree neighboring coun- Gould, project director. So far, he a relationship, he said, and the ties, but that the incidence of cancer said, 1,500. teeth have been tested, detecting a substance emitted by nuclear power plants. group now hopes to prove. It' in- a was not centered on the landfill.). out of 2,300 donated from New national study. "What we really want to know' York, New Jersey, Connecticut and By Kathryn Masterson tlum'-90, whichattaches to bone in A "Our goal is to do research and now is what's coming into our bud-... Florida, Each test costa about $100, IN*Ulnan SUBURBAN STAIW way similar to that of calcium, develop information to be used. in Lea," said Donna Cuthbert, theall1- When 5,000 teeth are analyzed, A private research group ap- The group has looked for evi- nuclear policy," Mangano said.. ance's vice president. Peco Energy the. group plans to -do a survey to pealed to Montgomery County. resi- dence of the :chemical in teeth from Co,'s Limerick Nuclear Geneiating try to correlate levels of radioactivi-Sponsoring the local effort isAlli- ty by location.
dents yesterday to donate family Toms River, N.J., and Long Island, ance for a Clean Enviroumenti a StatiOn is in western Montgomery members' baby teeth for a study of, N.Y., Joseph Mangano, project coor- Stowe group that several years ago County, about a. mile ..from radiation in people who live near dinator, said. The Tooth Fairy successfully pressed for a cancer- Pottstown. Kathryn Masterson's e-mail address Is nuclear power plants. Project is a replication of a study cluster*study in towns in Montgoin- Pottstown Mayor Anne Jones said kamaslerson@phlllynewscom
.At a news conference in done In the 1950s and 1960a, before ery, Chester and Berks Counties at the news conference that she Pottstown, the New York-based Ra- nuclear'testing was banned above near the Pottstown Landfill. (The was 'working with local parent-diation and Public Health Project ground, Mangano said, 10-month study, results of which 'teacher groups to, distribute-enve-asked the residents to submit teeth The intent is to try to correlate were released In January 1998, lopes in which parents can' send to Its Tooth Fairy Project to be ana- higher rates of childhood cancer showed that cases of leukemia, lung teeth to the Tooth Fairy Project.
lyzed for a radioactive chemical re- with higher exposure to stron- and cervical cancer, were' higher The teeth will be tested for.adio, leased from nuclear fallout, streon- tium-90, Mangano said. A study in among adults living in the area than activity at a lab in Canada, said Jay
Radiation and Public Health Directors Jay M. Gould, PhD Project lane S.Gould, MA Joseph J. Mangano, MPH, MBA, National Coordinator Ernest J. Sternglass, PhD 786 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215 William McDonnell, MA 718-857-9825 Joseph Mangano, MPH MBA www.radiation.org November 19, 2003; contact: Joseph Mangano (917-903-5847) Dr.' Lewis Cuthbert or Donna Cuthbert (ACE) (610-326-2387) (610) 326-6433 RADIATION IN TEETH RISING, HIGHEST NEAR LIMERICK POTENTIAL LINK TO CHILDHOOD CANCER SEEN Pottstown PA, November 19 - Radioactivity levels in Pennsylvania baby teeth rose during the 1990s, and are highest in Pottstown PA, closest to the Limerick nuclear power. reactors, according to results of a study released today. The study also found that the trends in average radioactivity levels and childhood cancer are similar, suggesting a link between the two. The study was presented in Pottstown by the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP), a New York City-based research group. "We tested 95 baby teeth from children living in Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, and found that average Strontium-90 levels rose 21% in the 1990s, and are 34% higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania," says Joseph Mangano, RPHP National Coordinator and study author. "in 34 teeth from Pottstown children, the excess is 62%." RPHP enlisted a laboratory to test teeth for Strontium-90 (Sr-90), a yellowish metal found only in atomic bomb explosions and nuclear reactor emissions. Sr-90 is radioactive and causes cancer. Mangano explained that in the three-county area, increases in average Sr-90 levels were followed four years later by rises in cancer in children Under age ten. High local rates of childhood cancer rates have recently been discussed in the Pottstown area; in the late 1990s, cancer incidence under age 20 in six local townships and boroughs was 94% above the state and national rate; "It's important to collect this kind of clinical data in order to work toward prevention and solutions," says Dr. Lewis Cuthbert, President of The Alliance For A Clean Environment, who also spoke at the press conference. "By testing amounts of a specific toxic chemical in the body, the tooth study is producing useful information on one potential factor." Pottstown Mayor Anne Jones also spoke in support of the tooth project, saying that "this kind of research provides documented evidence of harm, which can and should be used to demand use of the Precautionary Principle in all government decisions. We must put an end to the alarming rates of childhood cancer plaguing our community." RPHP is asking for donations of baby teeth from local children who have been diagnosed with cancer, so that comparisons could be made of Sr-90 averages in children with and without the disease. Based on 61 U.S. teeth, children with cancer have about a 50% higher average Sr-90 level, and more teeth would make this preliminary comparison more significant. Advisory Board Research Associates Rosalie Bertell, PhD, GNSH William Reid, MD Samuel S. Epstein, MD Susanne Saltzman, MD David Friedson, Applica Inc. Janetfe Sherman, MD John Goftnan, MD, PhD Agnes Reynolds, RN
EXE-CUT1E
SUMMARY
Since 1996, the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) has conducted the only known study of radiation levels in the bodies of persons living near nuclear reactors. Specifically, it has measured Strontium-90 (Sr-90) -concentrations in baby teeth. Strontium is chemically similar to calcium; after it enters the body by breathing, food, or water, it attaches to bone and teeth. Sr-90 has a slow decay rate, and remains in the body for many years. One area that the study focused on is-the Pottstown PA region, near the Limerick nuclear plant. Health and safety concerns about Limerick are reflected in the following data: Major Meltdowns - Limerick's two reactors began operations in 1984 and 1989, respectively.. In recent years, the Exelon Generation Company LLC has operated the reactors a high percentage of the time (96.7% in 2002 and 2003). The issue of whether aging parts are being pushed past their safe limits, raising the risk of a catastrophic mechanical failure and meltdown, is a serious consideration_ - The reactor lies about 30 miles northwest of downtown Philadelphia. The Al Qaeda terrorist network has considered an attack against U.S. reactors, raising the concern that reactors in heavily populated areas mni*ht be primary targets. The federal estimate of 610,000 local cases of radiation poisoning if either Limerick reactor suffered a major meltdown is the highest in the U.S. Radioactivity Routinely Emitted
- Radioactivity from the Limerick. reactors is routinely released into the environment.
There are variations over time when reactors accidentally emit radioactivity or release it as part of routine maintenance.
- Including Limerick, there are 13 nuclear reactors, 11 of which are still operating, situated within 80 miles of Pottstown, the heaviest concentration in the U.S. (along with northern Illinois). Each reactor releases radioactivity into the environment on an ongoing basis.
Hiah Cancer Rates Near Limerick From 1995-1999, cancer incidence in children under .age 20 living in Greater Pottstown was 94% higher than the national, state, and regional rates. For the entire 1990s, the rate was 77% higher (total of 40 children diagnosed with cancer).
- Childhood cancer mortality in Montgomery County rose 30% from the 1980s to the 1990s, compared to a 22% reduction in the state and nation'.
From'1995-1999, cancer incidence for young adults (age 20-54) in Greater Pottstown was 18% above the nati6nal average. A total of 287 local residents in this age group were diagnosed with cancer during these five years.
Local incidence of breast cancer in 1995-1999. exceeded the U.S. rate by 51% (age 30-44); by 39% (age 45-64); and by 29% (age 65 and over). In the five year period, 263 local women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Tooth Study Results-The combination of personal appearances in Pottstown by RPHP's Janette Sherman and Joseph Mangano, plus interest from local residents, resulted in 146 baby teeth being donated to RPBP. These teeth were all tested for Sr-90, and principal results of the analysis are as follows:
- 1. The average concentration of Sr-90 in frbaby teeth from Montgomery, Berks, and Chester county children born after 1979 is 34% above the rest of Pennsylvania, while the average in Pottstown is 62% higher.
- 2. From 1986-89 to 1994-97, average Sr-90 levels in .the tri-ounty area steadily rose 21%, reversing a decline that began in the early 1960s. This pattern is similar to that in five other states where the majority of teeth have been collected.
- 3. In the tri-county area, trends in Sr-90 are similar to trends in cancer deaths among children under age ten The above results suggest that current reactor emissions - not old fallout from Nevada bomb tests in the 1950s and 1960s - account for a substantial proportion of radioactivity in the bodies of local children. More importantly, there is a statistical link betweern Sr-90 and childhood cancer in Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties.
Further studies, such as comparing Sr-90 in teeth of healthy children with teeth of children with cancer, are warranted. (RPRP has recently begun such a study). Moreover, any policy discussions concerning Limerick should take into account the actual excess diseases and deaths caused by routinely-emitted low-dose radioactivity, along with a (hypothetical) catastrophic accident.
Figure 1 AVERAGE SR-90 IN BABY TEETH BY AREA OF PENNSYLVANIA 6 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 Pottstown Other Mont. Berks/Chester Other PA Scale represents average picocunes Sr-90 per grain calcium at birth in baby teeth. Only-births after 1979 included. Number of teeth include Pottstown (34), Other Montgomery (18), Berks/Chester(43), Other PA (34). 4L~
Figure 2 AVERAGE SR-90 IN BABY TEETH TREND IN TRI-COUNTY AREA 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.2 4 3.8 3.6-3.4-3.2 - 31 1986-89 1990-93 " 1994-97 Scale represents average picocuries Sr-90 per gram calc!r at birth in baby teeth. Number of teeth include 17 In 1986-1989, 42 In 1990-1993, and 29 in 1994-1997. Years represent birth years. ,
Figure 3 TRENDS IN SR-90 AND CANCER AGE 0-9 BERKS, CHESTER, MONTGOMERY (PA) COUNTIES 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 I I I I 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Sr-90
-- Ca. 0-9]
Scale represents cancer cases 0-9 per 25,000 population, average picocuries Sr-90 per gram of calcium at birth in baby teeth. Points represent middle year of three-year groups, e.g., 1988,= 1987-1989. Four year lag between points, e.g., first Sr-90 point is 1987-1989, first ca 0-9 point is 1991-1993. Sources: Radiation and Public Health Project (Sr-90 data), Pennsylvania Cancer Registry (ca 0-9 data).
RADIOACTIVE STRONTIUM-90 IN BABY TEETH OF SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA CHILDREN AND THE LINK WITH CANCER: A SPECIAL REPORT By Joseph J. Mangano, National Coordinator The Radiation and Public Health Project Pottstown PA November 19, 2003 RPHP Directors Jay M. Gould, Ph.D. Jane Gould, MA Joseph Mangano, MPH, MBA William McDonnell, MA Ernest J. Sternglass, Ph.D. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS Item Page Executive Summary ....................................... 3 Background - Health Effects of Radioactive Emissions ................ 5 Evolution of Pennsylvania Study/Supporting Data .................. 8 Study Methodology ....................................... 15 Study Results ..... ...................................... 21 Discussion/Im plications ........................................... 26 Appendices ............................................. 28 References ..................................................... 29 Figures ........... ..................................... 32 2
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Since 1996, the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) has conducted the only known study of radiation levels in the bodies of persons living near nuclear reactors. Specifically, it has measured Strontium-90 (Sr-90) concentrations in baby teeth. Strontium is chemically similar to calcium; after it enters the body by breathing, food, or water, it attaches to bone and teeth. Sr-90 has a slow decay rate, and remains in the body for many years. One area that the study focused on is the Pottstown PA region, near the Limerick nuclear plant. Health and safety concerns about Limerick are reflected in the following data: Major Meltdowns - Limerick's two reactors began operations in 1984 and 1989, respectively. In recent years, the Exelon Generation Company LLC has operated the reactors a high percentage of the time (96.7% in 2002 and 2003). The issue of whether aging parts are being pushed past their safe limits, raising the risk of a catastrophic mechanical failure and meltdown, is a serious consideration. - The reactor lies about 30 miles northwest of downtown Philadelphia. The Al Qaeda terrorist network has considered an attack against U.S. reactors, raising the concern that reactors in heavily populated areas might be primary targets. The federal estimate of 610,000 local cases of radiation poisoning if either Limerick reactor suffered a major meltdown is the highest in the U.S. Radioactivity Routinely Emitted
- Radioactivity from the Limerick reactors is routinely released into the environment.
There are variations over time when reactors accidentally emit radioactivity or release it as part of routine maintenance.
- Including Limerick, there are 13 nuclear reactors, 11 of which are still operating, situated within 80 miles of Pottstown, the heaviest concentration in the U.S. (along with northern Illinois). Each reactor releases radioactivity into the environment on an ongoing basis.
High Cancer Rates Near Limerick
- From 1995-1999, cancer incidence in children under age 20 living in Greater Pottstown was 94% higher than the national, state, and regional rates. For the entire 1990s, the rate was 77% higher (total of 40 children diagnosed with cancer). - Childhood cancer mortality in Montgomery County rose 30% from the 1980s to the 1990s, compared to a 22% reduction in the state and nation. , - From 1995-1999, cancer incidence for young adults (age 20-54) in Greater Pottstown was 18% above the national average. A total of 287 local residents in this age group were diagnosed with cancer during these five years.
3
Local incidence of breast cancer in 1995-1999 exceeded the U.S. rate by 51% (age 30-44); by 39% (age 45-64); and by 29% (age 65 and over). In the five year period, 263 local women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Tooth Study Results The combination of personal appearances in Pottstown by RPHP's Janette Sherman and Joseph Mangano, plus interest from local residents, resulted in 146 baby teeth being donated to RPHP. These teeth were all tested for Sr-90, and principal results of the analysis are as follows:
- 1. The average concentration of Sr-90 in 95 baby teeth from Montgomery, Berks, and Chester county children born after 1979 is 34% above the rest of Pennsylvania, while the average in Pottstown is 62% higher.
- 2. From 1986-89 to 1994-97, average Sr-90 levels in the tri-county area steadily rose 21 %, reversing a decline that began in the early 1960s. This pattern is similar to that in five other states where the majority of teeth have been collected.
- 3. In the tri-county area, trends in Sr-90 are similar to trends in cancer deaths among children under age ten The above results suggest that current reactor emissions - not old fallout from Nevada bomb tests in the 1950s and 1960s - account for a substantial proportion of radioactivity in the bodies of local children. More importantly, there is a statistical link between Sr-90 and childhood cancer in Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties.
Further studies, such as comparing Sr-90 in teeth of healthy children with teeth of children with cancer, are warranted. (RPHP has recently begun such a study). Moreover, any policy discussions concerning Limerick should take into account the actual excess diseases and deaths caused by routinely-emitted low-dose radioactivity, along with a (hypothetical) catastrophic accident. 4
BACKGROUND - HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVE EMISSIONS A. General History of Reactors. After the discovery of fission that led to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs in August 1945, scientists and government officials looked for alternative uses of man-made radioactive chemicals. President Eisenhower made his "Atoms for Peace" speech to the 'United Nations on December 8, 1953, suggesting that (among other uses), atomic power could generate electricity. (1) Congress passed the Atomic Energy Act in 1954, which allowed private companies to build nuclear power plants and ordered the federal Atomic Energy Commission to provide technical assistance. (2) The Shippingport reactor near Pittsburgh became the first nuclear power reactor to begin operations, in December 1957. Currently, 103 reactors are now licensed by the federal government to produce electricity (including two at the Limerick site). Since the late 1980s, nuclear power has generated about 20% of the electricity consumed in the U.S. (3) B. Health Effects of Radioactivity. Much consideration has been given to health effects of a large-scale meltdown of a reactor's core (where electricity is produced) and/or its spent fuel pools (where radioactive waste is stored). The discussion has been particularly serious since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Such a major meltdown at a reactor near a large city would constitute the worst environmental catastrophe in U.S. history, comparable to the 1986 Chernobyl accident. However, nuclear reactors pose health concerns other than major meltdowns. To produce electricity, each reactor must emit relatively low-dose amounts of airborne and liquid radioactivity into the environment. This radioactivity represents over 100 different isotopes only produced in reactors and atomic bombs, including Strontium-89, Strontium-90, Cesium-137, and Iodine-131. Humans ingest them either by inhaling or through the food chain (after. precipitation returns these airborne chemicals to earth). Each of these 100-plus chemicals has a special biochemical action; iodine seeks out the thyroid gland, strontium clumps to the bone and teeth (like calcium), and cesium is distributed throughout the soft tissues. All are carcinogenic. Each decays at varying rates; for example, Iodine-131 has a half-life of eight days, and remains in the body only a few weeks. Strontium-90 (Sr-90) has a half-life of 28.7 years, and thus remains in bone and teeth for many years. These chemicals are different from "background" radiation found in nature in cosmic rays and in the earth's surface. Background radiation, while still harmful, contains few chemicals that specifically attack the thyroid gland, bones, or other organs. Because no nuclear reactor in the U.S. has been ordered since 1978, the current crop of 103 reactors is aging, which presents additional health concerns. As reactors age, their parts are more likely to wear down and malfunction, raising the possibility of higher emissions and increased levels of environmental radioactivity. For example, in March 5
2002 officials noticed that corrosion from boric acid in the Davis-Besse reactor in Ohio had worn down a steel lid from six inches to three-eighths of an inch; that reactor has been closed for nearly two years to make needed repairs. C. Lack of Studies Comparing Low-Level Radioactivity with Disease Rates. Currently, federal regulators require annual reports from plant operators to submit annual reports of emissions and environmental (air, water, milk, soil) levels of radioactivity. If these levels fall below federally-defined "permissible limits" they are judged to be harmless, and the plant operator retains its license. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, utilities that operate plants, and state health departments perform no studies evaluating any health risks of plant emissions or environmental radiation levels. For decades, scientists have documented harm from relatively low-dose exposures of radioactivity otherwise presumed to be safe. In the 1950s, British physician Alice Stewart found that pelvic X-rays to pregnant women nearly doubled the risk that the child would die from cancer by age ten. (4) In 1997, the National Cancer Institute estimated that up to 212,000 Americans developed thyroid cancer after ingesting fallout from above-ground nuclear weapons tests in Nevada. (5) In 2000, the U.S. Department of Energy acknowledged independent studies showed that thousands of workers in atomic weapons plants developed cancer and other diseases in excessively high numbers. (6) Elevated disease rates in persons living near nuclear power reactors have been reported in dozens of medical journal articles. For example, at least 12 studies have demonstrated high rates of childhood cancer near separate nuclear plants in the United Kingdom. (7-18) In the U.S., very few studies have been done on childhood cancer near nuclear plants; and these examined patterns from decades ago, were small in scale, and yielded mixed results. (19-22) Moreover, no study has ever been done comparing in-body radioactivity of persons living near U.S. nuclear plants with cancer risk. Thus, much remains to be learned on the health effects of nuclear reactor emissions. D. RPHP Baby Tooth Study - A Pioneering Effort. In 1996, the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) initiated the first-ever study of in-body radioactivity near U.S. nuclear plants. Known as the "Tooth Fairy Project," the study involved collecting discarded baby teeth and performing laboratory testing for levels of radioactive Sr-90. RPHP is a New York-based non-profit group of scientists and health professionals dedicated to researching the link between low-dose radiation exposures and disease. Since 1994, group members have written five books and published 19 articles in professional medical/scientific journals on this topic. The Tooth Fairy Project is not unprecedented. A 1958-70 effort in St. Louis collected over 300,000 baby teeth and measured many of them for Sr-90 levels. The St. Louis project showed that because of fallout from atomic bomb testing in Nevada, children born in 1964 had about 50 times greater concentrations of Sr-90 than did children born in 1950. It also found that in-body levels of Sr-90 decreased by about 50% from 1964 to 6
1969, after the Partial Test Ban Treaty signed by President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev relegated all testing to underground sites. (23) In recent years, there have been at least four studies of Sr-90 from nuclear reactor emissions in baby teeth outside of the U.S. Three of these addressed fallout from the Chernobyl accident in Germany, Greece, and the Ukraine (24-26), while the other examined releases from the Sellafield plant in western England (27). However, none of these compared releases to disease patterns. To bridge the knowledge gap due to lack of prior research, the RPHP baby tooth study set the following goals:
- 1. To measure patterns of Sr-90 concentrations in baby teeth near U.S. nuclear reactors.
- 2. To compare Sr-90 patterns with those of cancer and other diseases.
To date, RPHP has collected over 4000 baby teeth, of which laboratory results of Sr-90 levels are available for about 3500. Most of these teeth are from children born since the mid-1980s living close to one or more nuclear reactors. RPHP researchers have already published three medical journal articles on preliminary results. (28-30) A fourth will be published in January 2004. The principal findings are:
- 1. Current Sr-90 levels in children are similar to St. Louis children born in the late 1950s, during the time of above-ground bomb testing.
- 2. Levels have risen during the 1990s, suggesting that a current source of radioactive emissions is contributing to the burden on the body. Because Sr-90 is only produced in atomic bombs and nuclear reactors, the logical conclusion is that current rises likely represent reactor emissions.
- 3. In Suffolk County, NY (near the Brookhaven reactors), and in Ocean/Monmouth county NJ (near the Oyster Creek reactor) where hundreds of teeth have been tested, the recent trend in Sr-90 is nearly identical to the trend in childhood cancer, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship.
7
EVOLUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA STUDY/SUPPORTING DATA Concerned local citizens involved in the Alliance for a Clean Environment (ACE) invited RPHP's Janette Sherman, MD, to make a presentation in November 2000. Dr. Sherman, a toxicologist, discussed the harmful effects of a variety of chemicals, and mentioned RPHP's research on one category of these chemicals, i.e., radioactive emissions from nuclear reactors. Because the two Limerick reactors operated by Exelon Generation Company LLC were located in Pottstown, ACE became interested in RPHP activities, especially its Tooth Fairy Project. In January 2001, National Coordinator Joseph Mangano held a press conference in Pottstown describing the tooth project and appealing for contributions of baby teeth. The event was widely covered by local media; and 146 baby teeth were submitted to RPHP and tested in its laboratory. A. Types of Reactor Emissions Posing Health Threats The Limerick nuclear, power plant is located in Pottstown, and consists of two reactors. Unit 1 "went critical" (began producing radioactive chemicals from operations) on December 22, 1984, while Unit 2 followed on August 1, 1989. (31) Pottstown is situated in an area with the greatest concentration of nuclear reactors in the U.S., along with northern Illinois. Other nearby reactors include: From Reactor Location Pottstown Startup
- 1. Limerick 1 Pottstown PA 12/22/84
- 2. Limerick 2 Pottstown PA .8/ 1/89
- 3. Salem 1 Salem, NJ 45 mi. SE 12/11/76
- 4. Salem 2 Salem, NJ 45 mi. SE 8/ 8/80
- 5. Hope Creek Salem, NJ 45 mi. SE 6/28/86
- 6. Oyster Creek Forked River, NJ 80 mi. E 5/ 3/69
- 7. Peach Bottom i Delta, PA 50 mi. SW 3/ 3/66 (closed 10/31/74)
- 8. Peach Bottom 2 Delta, PA 50 mi. SW 9/16/73
- 9. Peach Bottom 3 Delta, PA 50 mi. SW 8/ 7/74
- 10. Three Mile Is. 1 Middletown, PA 60 mi. W 6/ 5/74 11 I Three Mile Is. 2 Middletown, PA 60 mi. W 3/27/78 (closed 3/28/79)
- 12. Susquehanna 1 Berwick, PA 70 mi. NW 9/10/82
- 13. Susquehanna 2 Berwick, PA 70 mi. NW 5/ 8/84 Number of operating reactors Within 80 miles of Pottstown 1965- 0 1970- 2 1975- 3 1980- 5 1985- 9 1990-11 8
There are four types of public health risk posed by reactors like Limerick6
- 1. Meltdown After Terrorist Attack.
Health concerns about Limerick and all nuclear reactors rose after September 11, 2001. There has been a prolonged debate about the vulnerability of reactors to a terrorist strike against a reactor's core and/or waste pools, and the health consequences of a subsequent meltdown. In 1982, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimated the casualties after a reactor core meltdown. The estimates for each of the two Limerick reactors were 74,000 rapid deaths from and 610,000 rapid cases of radiation poisoning (easily the highest of all U.S. nuclear plants), along with 34,000 eventual cancer deaths. (32) These figures should be seen as conservative because they only consider - a core meltdown, not one in the waste pools where the majority of radioactivity exists - persons only living within 30 miles of the reactor - 1980 population figures, which have risen since Because Limerick lies just 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia, one of the most densely populated areas in the U.S., particular concern should be raised about the threat of a terrorist attack against this plant.
- 2. Meltdown After Mechanical Failure.
A terrorist attack is not the only way in which a reactor meltdown can occur; mechanical failure is the other. The Chernobyl plant suffered a full meltdown of its core in 1986, while Three Mile Island Unit 2 in Pennsylvania experienced a partial meltdown in 1979, closing the reactor permanently. Because the Limerick (and other) reactors are aging, there is greater concern about parts being more likely to wear out, leak, or corrode. This concern was illustrated in March 2002 at the Davis-Besse plant near Toledo, Ohio (see page 6). Adding to the concerns of the mechanical failure is the recent tendency of plant operators to run aging reactors more of the time. Between 1986 and 2001, the percent of the time that U.S. reactors were in operation rose from 63 to 91 percent. (3) In 2002 and 2003, each of the Limerick reactors operated 96.7% of the time. (33)
- 3. Waste Buildup.
Each nuclear plant accumulates high-level radioactive waste, known as "spent fuel rods." These resemble 10-foot long steel rods about the diameter of a pencil, containing high levels of radioactivity, and must be placed in 40 feet deep pools of constantly-cooled water. Some nuclear facilities have begun converting waste to "dry cask" storage, or thick concrete containers, but Exelon does not yet have a license to do this. The U.S. government is planning to eventually store all waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, but this plan is being contested in the courts, and the earliest possible date that waste transfers would begin is 2010. Whether the waste remains on site, or is transferred to Nevada, there is a chance that a terrorist attack or mechanical failure disrupting the cooling water in the fuel pools could cause a large-scale meltdown. 9
- 4. Routine Emissions.
While most radioactivity produced in reactors is contained in the building and stored as waste, a small proportion of this mix of 100-plus carcinogenic chemicals escapes through the stacks of the reactor. These tiny particles and gases present a concern for public health, since they enter the human body by breathing or through the food chain, after precipitation brings it to reservoirs, dairies, and other sources of food and water. RPHP's work is largely confined to health effects from routine emissions. To date, there have been no Chernobyl-type major accidents at U.S. reactors, and the hazardous waste is not actively involved in the food chain. Thus, the only ACTUAL exposure to radioactivity that reactors have posed to the public is from routine emissions. B. Health Data Suggesting Harm to Residents Near Limerick Various forms of evidence suggest that Limerick emissions may be linked with cancer.
- 1. Childhood Cancer Incidence in Greater Pottstown.
The Pennsylvania Cancer Registry makes cancer incidence data available for each township and borough in the state, for the periods 1985-89, 1990-94, and 1995-99. The reports include the number of newly-diagnosed cancer cases for each five-year age group (0-4 to over 85), for all cancers combined plus 23 types of cancer. Dividing the number of cancer cases by the population yields an incidence rate. In 1998, the Montgomery County Health Department issued a report on local cancer patterns. The Department defined the Greater Pottstown area to include six townships or boroughs: Douglass (Berks County), North Coventry (Chester County), and Lower Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgrove, West Pottsgrove, and Pottstown (all in Montgomery County). The area had a 1990 population of 48,859, which grew to 51,697 in 2000. (34) The Department's report analyzed the rate of cancer in children (defined as under age 20) from 1985 to 1994. There were 33 cases in this period, and the rate of 24.4 cases per 100,000 children exceeded the rest of Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties (16.2) by 50%. The difference fell just short of statistical significance, and the Department concluded "the cancer experience of children living in the Greater Pottstown analysis area is not different from children living elsewhere in the three county area." (35) Children are most susceptible to the biochemical damage caused by radiation exposure. The immune system of the fetus, infant, and young child is not well developed, and the rate of cell division is very rapid compared to. that in adults. Thus, it is less likely that the young body is able to repair a cell that is damaged by radioactivity. And because the local cancer rate in children was 50% above the local rate, further analysis is warranted. Table 1 updates the Montgomery County Health Department report. It shows that in the period 1995-1999, there were 22 cases of cancer diagnosed in Greater Pottstown children. This number represents an increase from 18 in the early 1990s and 15 in the late 1980s. The 22 cases mean that the local rate of childhood cancer is 94% above the U.S. rate (significant at p<.05, confidence interval 17.75 - 44.05). Rates for the rest of the tri-10
county area and state are roughly equal to the U.S. rate. If the 1990s are considered as a whole, the rate for Greater Pottstown is 77% above the U.S., also significant (p<.05, CI = 19.37-37.29). Of the 40 cases diagnosed in the 1990s, half are either leukemia (13) or brain cancer (7). Table 1 CANCER INCIDENCE AGE 0-19 GREATER POTTSTOWN vs. PA and U.S. 1995-1999 and 1990-99 Area Cases Ann. Population Cases/100,000 % +/- U.S. 1995-1999 Greater Pottstown 22 14251 30.88 +94% Other Tri-County 312 391979 15.92 - 0% Other Pennsylvania 2509 3222791 15.57 - 2% U.S. 15.94 1990-1999 Greater Pottstown 40 14120 28.33 +77% Other Tri-County 581 384360 15.12 - 5% Other Pennsylvania 5025 3208862 15.66 - 2% U.S. 15.97 Sources: Pennsylania Cancer Registry, Harrisburg-PA (PA data). Cancer registries for Atlanta, Connecticut, Detroit, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, San Francisco, Seattle, and Utah (U.S. data).
- 2. Childhood Cancer Mortality in Montgomery County.
In addition to cancer incidence, cancer mortality in children may be another indicator suggesting that radiation exposure and other environmental toxins may be harming local residents. No mortality data are available at the township/borough level, so data from Montgomery County are used instead. Because prevailing winds blow from the northwest much of the year, Montgomery County can be considered downwind from Pottstown. During the 1990s, 88 Montgomery County children under age 20 died of cancer (Table 2). The county rate of 4.82 deaths per 100,000 children was 43% and 41% higher than the state (3.28) and U.S. (3.41), respectively (p< .05, CI 3.79 - 5.85). Moreover, Montgomery County's childhood cancer death rate rose 30% from the 1980s to the 1990s, jumping from 65 to 88 deaths. This trend differs from the reductions in childhood cancer deaths across the nation. The state and national rate each fell 22% during this time (p<.01). 11
Table 2 CANCER MORTALITY AGE 0-19 MONTGOMERY COUNTY vs. PA and U.S. 1980s vs. 1990s Cancer Deaths Annual Pop. Deaths/100,000 Area 1980-9 1990-9 1980-9 1990-9 1980-9 1990-9 %Ch. Montgomery County 65 88 175056 182521 3.71 4.82 +30% Other Penn. 1327 1003 3.14M 3.05M 4.22 3.28 - 22% United States 31226 25975 71.3M- 76.1M 4.38 3.41 - 22% Sources: National Center for Health Statistics (available from http://www.cdc.gov, data and statistics, CDC Wonder). Uses ICD-9 codes 140.0-239.9 (neoplasms). Bair FE. Weather of U.S. Cities, 4 1h Edition. Detroit: Gale Research Company Inc., 1992 (prevailing wind direction).
- 3. Cancer Incidence in Young and Middle Age Adults in Greater Pottstown.
Aside from children, younger adults are perhaps the next most sensitive group to radiation exposure, as exposures early in life may take years to manifest as cancer. Table 3 shows that the 1995-1999 cancer incidence rate in Greater Pottstown is 18% higher than the U.S. for persons age 20-54 (significant at p<.05, CI = 203.85 - 257.15). With 287 local residents age 20-54 diagnosed with cancer during these five years, these elevated rates should be seriously considered. Table 3 CANCER INCIDENCE AGE 20-54 GREATER POTTSTOWN vs. PA and U.S. 1995-1999 Area Cases Ann. Population Cases/100,000 % +/- U.S. Greater Pottstown 287 24956 230.0 +18% Other Tri-County 7262 696876 208.4 + 7% Other Pennsylvania 58015 5819072 199.4 + 2% U.S. 195.3 Sources: Pennsylania Cancer Registry, Harrisburg PA (PA data). Cancer registries for Atlanta, Connecticut, Detroit, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, San Francisco, Seattle, and Utah (U.S. data).
- 4. Cancer Incidence in Elderly Adults in Greater Pottstown Table 4 shows that 1995-1999 cancer incidence in Greater Pottstown for persons 55 and over is roughly the same as that of the tri-county area, state, and nation. Despite this, the fact that persons under age 55 (77% of the local population) have high cancer rates suggests that-more investigation into potential environmental causes is warranted.
12
Table 4 CANCER INCIDENCE GREATER POTTSTOWN vs. PA and U.S. 1995-1999, Age 55-64 and 65+ Area Cases Ann. Population Cases/i100,000 %+- U.S. Age 55-64 Greater Pottstown 230 4464 1030.5 -7% Other Tri-County 7039 131018 1074.5 - 3% Other Pennsylvania 59708 1135609 1051.6 - 5% U.S. 1106.1 Age 65+ Greater Pottstown 820 7175 2285.9 + 1% Other Tri-County 22675 195272 2322.4 + 3% Other Pennsylvania 211849 1884973 2247.8 1% U.S. 2262.2 Sources: Pennsylania Cancer Registry, Harrisburg PA (PA data). Cancer registries for Atlanta, Connecticut, Detroit, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, San Francisco, Seattle, and Utah (U.S. data).
- 5. Breast Cancer Incidence in Greater Pottstown Female breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S., just behind prostate cancer. Approximately 211,300 women will receive this diagnosis in the year 2003. (36) Prior research has shown elevated breast cancer rates in persons exposed to radiation.
Table 5 shows the 1995-1999 breast cancer incidence rate in Greater Pottstown. The local rate, based on 263 cases, exceeded the U.S. rate for young, middle aged, and elderly women (by 51%, 39%, and 29%, respectively). Excesses are significant for age 45-64 (p<.02, CI = 331.5 - 484.9), and age 65 and over (p<.05, CI = 482.6 - 691.8). Table 5 FEMALE BREAST CANCER INCIDENCE GREATER POTTSTOWN vs. U.S. BY AGE GROUP, 1995-1999 Cases/100,000 Age Cases Ann. Population Local U.S. % +/- U.S. 0-29 1 10205 2.0 1.7 +15% 30-44 31 6013 103.1 68.1 +51% 45-64 105 5145 408.2 293.1 +39% 65+ 126 4292 587.2 456.6 +29% TOTAL 263 Sources: Pennsylania Cancer Registry, Harrisburg PA (PA data). Cancer registries for Atlanta, Connecticut, Detroit, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, San Francisco, Seattle, and Utah (U.S. data). 13
- 6. Incidence of Most Common Cancers in Greater Pottstown.
Data from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry makes an analysis of individual forms of cancer possible. Table 6 documents Greater Pottstown's 1995-1999 incidence rate of the 11 most common (nationally) cancer types, compared to rates for the U.S. and other parts of the tri-county area. These 11 cancer types make up 78.3% of the cancer cases diagnosed in Greater Pottstown residents in the late 1990s. The Greater Pottstown rate exceeds the local and national rate for 8 of the 11 most common cancer types. Because of the large number of cases, many of the elevated rates are significantly higher. Table 6 CANCER INCIDENCE, 11 MOST COMMON CANCER TYPES GREATER POTTSTOWN vs. OTHER TRI-COUNTY and U.S. 1995-1999, ALL AGES COMBINED Local Rate per 100,000 % Local Above Type of Cancer Cases Gr. Potts. U.S. Oth. 3 Co. U.S. 0th. 3 Co. All Cancers 1432 449.9 402.0 430.4 +11.9* .+ 4.5 Prostate (male) 174 127.4 143.1 139.4 - 11.0 - 8.6 Breast (female) 263 161.5 116.0 129.8 +39.2* +24.5* Lung 197 62.3 55.7 52.6 +11.8 +18.4** Colon 129 37.9 31.3 36.7 +21.1 + .3.3 Urinary Bladder 79 22.9 16.9 19.4 +35.5** +17.9 Skin Melanoma 46 14.0 14.5 15.5 - 3.4 - 10.0 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma 43 14.1 16.1 16.2 - 12.4 - 12.8 Rectum 61 18.2 12.6 16.0 +44.4.* +13.5 Uterine (female) 51 31.7 22.0 22.8 +44.1** +38.7 Kidney/Renal Pelvis 45 15.2 9.5 10.7 +60.0* +42.7 Leukemia 35 11.6 10.4 10.1 +11.5 +14.9 U.S. includes Alaska Territories, Atlanta area, Connecticut, Detroit area, Hawaii, Iowa, Los Angeles area, New Mexico, San Francisco area, San Jose-Monterrey, Seattle area, Utah (about 14% of U.S. population) Most common cancer types are those with the most cases expected nationally in 2003 (prostate = 220,900; female breast = 211,300; lung = 171,900; colon = 105,500; urinary bladder = 57,400; skin melanoma = 54,200; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma = 53,400; rectum = 42,000; uterine (corpus uteri) = 40,100; kidney/renal pelvis = 31,900; leukemia = 30,600). Source: National Cancer Institute (www.seer.cancer.gov) Rates adjusted for 1970 U.S. standard population
* = significant at p<.05; ** borderline significant at p<.10 Sources: Pennsylvania State Cancer Registry, National Cancer Institute (cancer cases). U.S. Census Bureau (population data) 14
METHODOLOGY A. Collecting Teeth. As described above, most of the teeth donated to the Tooth Fairy Project in the Pottstown area resulted from Joseph Mangano's appearance in January 2001, and subsequent efforts by ACE to solicit tooth donations from community members. B. Testing Teeth. RPHP measures the amount of Strontium-90 in each baby tooth by contracting with REMS, Inc., a laboratory in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada under the direction of Hari Sharma, PhD, a radiochemist. RPHP sends teeth to the laboratory in batches, and teeth are tested individually using a scintillation counter. All lab personnel are "blinded" about all information concerning each tooth, that is, they know nothing about what state it is from, how old the child is, etc. This "blinding" helps assure objective, non-biased results. The laboratory measures the concentration of Sr-90; specifically, it calculates the picocuries of Sr-90 per gram of calcium in each tooth. (See Appendix 1 for more specific technical procedures). The strontium-to-calcium ratio was used in the St. Louis study in the 1960s, and all other recent baby tooth studies mentioned earlier. Effects of harmful strontium can be negated by health-promoting calcium. The laboratory returns results to RPHP, where staff converts the ratio to that at birth, using the Sr-90 half-life of 28.7 years. For example, if the lab determines the tooth had 3.00 picocuries of Sr-90 per gram of calcium, and the person was 28.7 years old, the ratio at birth would be 6.00 (half of the Sr-90 would have decayed in 28.7 years). RPHP computerizes the results, and produces summary reports. The Sr-90/Ca ratio for a single tooth is not a precise number because a typical baby tooth is small in mass and subject to some error. In fact, only the most modern machines can test individual teeth with any precision; the St. Louis study only tested batches of teeth. The standard error for each tooth is conservatively estimated as plus or minus 0.7 picocuries. Thus, there is a 95% chance that the "actual" amount of Sr-90 in a tooth with a ratio of 6.00 is between 4.60 and 7.40 (plus or minus twice the standard error). Obviously, when using large numbers of teeth, the error for the average level becomes much smaller. Ratios for some teeth are less reliable than for others. Generally, the ones with the lowest reliability are the smallest and/or most decayed, leaving little healthy enamel to be tested. RPHP assigns each tooth a reliability (quench) factor, and excludes those teeth deemed most unreliable (i.e. a quench factor of over 1.24) from analyses of aggregate data. C. Change in Counter, Technique. After June 2000, when RPHP had Sr-90 results for 1303 teeth, it made two upgrades to its testing procedures. First, it leased and began using a new machine, the 1220-003 Quantulus Ultra Low-Level Liquid Scintillation Spectrometer. Made by the Perkin-15
Elmer Company of Massachusetts, this new model is considered to be one of the most sophisticated counters in the field. Introduced in 1995, only about 15 to 20 are in use in the United States. (37) The new counter is located on the premises of REMS, Inc., and not in the basement of the University of Waterloo's science building, thus changing the nature of the radiation background. Also, the method of removing organic material from the teeth was changed by treating them with hydrogen peroxide prior to grinding them into powder. This proved to be more effective in allowing light produced in the liquid scintillation fluid by the beta particles emitted by the Sr-90 and its daughter product, Yttrium-90, to reach the photomultipliers, partly by shifting the spectrum of the light emitted by the scintillation fluid to some degree. As a result of these changes in the counter, its location, the nature of the background, and the method of cleaning the teeth, the efficiency of detecting the very low radioactivity in single teeth was more than doubled, improving the quality of the data. Because the results from the two counters are each internally consistent but differ, the data from teeth measured before and after June 2000 cannot be merged. This report only covers those "newer" teeth, numbering 2263 at this writing. D. Comparisons for Consistency of Data. RPHP set up a method to test the same teeth for Sr-90 in different laboratories, to assure that results produced by the REMS lab were consistent and accurate. The Perkin-Elmer Company staff recommended several users of the same model scintillation counter that RPHP was employing. RPHP selected Michael. P. Neary, PhD, of the University of Georgia Center for Applied Isotope Studies for this test. Dr. Neary, an experienced radiochemist, operates three of the 15-20 units in the U.S., and was perhaps the first American to use them when he purchased them in the mid-1990s. RPHP sent Dr. Sharma two batches of teeth to test. They contained 10 teeth each from persons born in St. Louis (from the original 1958-70 study mentioned earlier). One batch were 1954 births, and the other were 1959 births. Again, Drs. Sharma and Neary were blinded and had no information other than that they were baby teeth.
- 1. Interlaboratory Consistency. Dr. Sharma dried teeth in the two batches, removed any decay and fillings, and ground them into a powder. He tested Sr-90 levels for the 10 teeth from 1954 on the counter used in the RPHP tooth study. When he completed. work, he sent the entire batch to Dr. Neary. Dr. Neary could only test the Sr-90 level of the dissolved solution of teeth, not the crushed powder, but this will not alter the results. The findings from each test of the 1954 teeth are as follows:
16
Table 7 INTER-LAB COMPARISON, ST. LOUIS TEETH, 1954 BIRTHS Sr-90 Confidence Tester Level* Std. Error Interval+ Sharma 1.77 +/-0.31 1.15-2.39 Neary 2.13 +/-0.31 1.51 -2.75
- Average picocuries of Strontium-90 per gram of calcium at birth
+ Average Sr-90 level plus or minus two times the standard error, i.e. there is a 95% certainty that the actual value falls between these two values While there is some variation between each set of readings, there is substantial overlap between each confidence interval, therefore indicating that measurements are largely consistent between labs. It is clear that with a small sample (10 teeth),
results will vary somewhat, which is why RPHP collected hundreds of teeth before presenting data as anything more than preliminary.
- 2. Intralaboratory Comparison. A second reliability test was performed by Dr.
Sharma. Prior results from the St. Louis study indicated that average 1959 Sr-90 levels were considerably higher than those for 1954. Dr. Sharma split his two samples of 10 teeth each into two "sub-batches," and calculated Sr-90 levels separately. The following results were obtained: Avg. % 1959 Confidence Batch Sr-90* Over 1954 Std. Error Interval
#1 - 1954 1.66 +/-0.27 1.12-2.20
- 1959 3.28 +98% +/- 0.36 2.56 - 4.00
#2 - 1954 1.77 +/-0.31 1.15-2.39
-1959 3.36 +90% +/-0.37 2.64 - 4.10
*Average picocuries of Strontium-90 per gram of calcium at birth In the two tests, the excess of 1959 averages are slightly less than double that of 1954 (98% and 90%). Confidence levels do not overlap, meaning it is very likely the "true" values of the 1959 results exceed those for 1954. Thus, the RPHP results are also internally consistent, and are largely consistent with those found in the St. Louis study in the 1960s.
E. Do Sr-90 Levels Represent Current or Past Emissions? Some have suggested that the Sr-90 detected in the RPHP study may not represent new emissions from nuclear reactors, but leftover fallout from atmospheric atomic bomb tests in Nevada from 1951-62. Large-scale atmospheric testing ended in 1963, and the last above-ground test worldwide took place in China in 1980. U.S. underground tests ended in 1992. There are no other sources of Sr-90 other than bomb tests or reactor emissions. 17
There are numerous reasons why the large majority of Sr-90 detected in baby teeth of today's children represents emissions from nuclear reactors, not old bomb test fallout.
- 1. Physical/Biological Half-Life. A fetus takes up Sr-90 in its tooth buds from the mother's bone stores and from the mother's diet (delivered to the fetus through the placenta) during pregnancy. During early infancy, Sr-90 is taken up from the diet, whether the baby is bottle-fed or breast-fed.
The biological half-life of Sr-90 in the body is about two years for children and 5-10 years for adults, before transforming into its daughter product Yttrium-90. Thus, the bones of the mothers of tooth donors (many of whom were at. least 25 at delivery) should have little Sr-90 remaining in their bone stores by now. The physical half-life of Sr-90 is about 28.7 years. But Sr-90 that rained into reservoirs (drinking water) 40-50 years ago has long sunk into the sediment, because strontium is heavier than water: Similarly, Sr-90 that rained onto grass where cows graze has long ago penetrated into the soil, or run off with excess water, Thus, it is logical that little Sr-90 from 1950s and 1960s bomb tests remains in mother's bodies or in the environment, and most of the current Sr-90 represents emissions from nuclear reactors.
- 2. Sr-90 in Bone, Teeth Leveling or Rising. There is a precedent for reactor emissions causing rises in Sr-90. In southern Germany, 280 baby teeth from children born before and after the Chernobyl accident were analyzed. The change from an average of 0.81 to 7.56 picocuries of Sr-90 per gram calcium, nearly a ten-fold increase, was observed for children born 1983-85 and 1987. (24)
The St. Louis baby tooth study also'examined Sr-90 levels in the mandibles (jaw bone) of stillborn fetuses. Similar to baby teeth, a large increase was observed in the early 1960s, during the height of atmospheric bomb testing. However, after large-scale testing ended following the Test Ban Treaty, average Sr-90 levels fell by about half from 1964-69. No further data are available because federal government support for the study ceased in 1970. (23) In the late 1960s, only a half-dozen small nuclear power reactors were in operation, and underground bomb tests emitted considerably less radiation into the atmosphere than did above-ground tests. If the 1964-69 trend had continued, about 97-99% less Sr-90 should now be present in the body at birth, or less than 0.5 picocuries. But RPHP found otherwise. In the first 1303 teeth (using the "old" counter and technique), the average Sr-90 level fell by more than half from 1974-1977 (average 2.83 picocuries) to 1985-1988 (1.38), then stopped declining in 1989-1992 (1.36). Using the new technique/counter, the rapid Sr-90 decline stopped at the same time, and has actually increased 60% from 1986-89 to 1994-97 (Table 8). 18
There can be no explanation for this reversal other than an increase in a current source of radioactivity, and this source almost certainly is must be emissions from nuclear reactors. Since the early 1980s, the number of operating reactors has risen from about 70 to just over 100. Moreover, plants are closed less frequently for inspections, maintenance, and repairs, and the number of gigawatt-hours of electricity produced by these reactors tripled during this time. (3) Table 8 AVERAGE SR-90 CONCENTRATION, BY BIRTH YEAR, U.S. TEETH TESTED AFTER JUNE 2000 Birth Yr No. Teeth Avg. Sr-90* 1962-65 8 9.48 1966-69 16 7.01 1970-73 38 5.98 1974-77 46 6.84 1978-81 85 4.34 1982-85 179 3.96 1986-89 552 3.16 1990-93 880 3.70 1.994-97 411 5.06
%Change, 1986-89 to 1994-97 +60%
Note: Most teeth are from areas near reactors in CA, CT, FL, NJ, NY, and PA
- Average picocuries of Strontium-90 per gram of calcium at birth
- 3. Philippino Sr-90 Teeth Considerably Lower. RPHP collected several dozen teeth from persons born in the Philippine Islands. No nuclear reactor (for weapons, power, or research) has ever operated in this nation. It may have received fallout from Chinese atmospheric bomb tests, but there were many fewer of these tests than in the U.S., and Chinese testing ended in 1980. Thus, if emissions from reactors are contributing to current Sr-90 levels, Philippino teeth should contain less of this chemical than American teeth.
Thirteen (13) teeth of children born in 1991 and 1992 (9 and 4, respectively), were tested. The average Sr-90 concentration at birth was 2.04 (using the new technique/counter). The average for teeth of American children born those years was 3.44, making Philippino teeth about 41% lower than U.S. teeth. Again, reactors appear to be a major source of current Sr-90 levels (note that some Sr-90 may exist in Philippino teeth due to imported food products from affected areas), and that there is an error factor when using only 13 teeth.
- 4. California Sr-90 Teeth Rise After Reactor Opening. RPHP collected 34 teeth from San Luis Obispo County CA, the location of the Diablo Canyon 1 and 2 reactors, which started operations in 1984 and 1985; The average Sr-90 concentration for 19
children born after the reactors opened was 49.6% greater than those born before (average of 2.02 vs. 1.35), suggesting that emissions from the new reactors accounted for this rise. The comparison used the "old" technique and machine.
- 5. Other Reports Indicate Current Rates Should Be Near Zero. One of the recent Sr-90 tooth studies mentioned earlier by Greek researchers contained a chart summarizing trends in Sr-90 in deciduous (baby) teeth from various European nations and the Soviet Union. The chart shows that, from a level of about 0.27. picocuries of Sr-90 per gram of calcium in 1951, a peak of 6.75 was reached in 1964, similar to the U.S.
trend. By 1975, the average level had slumped to about 0.81 (three times the 1951 average) and was still declining. (25) At three times the 1951 average, the 1975 U.S. Sr-90 level should have been about 0.6 (0.2 times three) picocuries Sr-90 per gram calcium. But the actual levels found by RPHP were 3.03 and 4.96 (8 and 12 teeth, respectively, using the old and new technique/method).
- 6. Short-Lived Radioactive Chemicals Found In Local Eggshells. In 2001, a high school student from Rockland County NY presented an innovative idea for the Tooth Fairy Project. RPHP could not measure levels of short-lived radioactive chemicals in baby teeth, which now can only come from reactors. These include Strontium-89,
- with a physical half-life of 50 days and Barium-140, with a half-life of 13 days. By the time the child lost a baby tooth, at least five years after birth, the short-lived particles had disappeared.
The student's idea was to test chicken eggshells for short-lived radioactivity. She collected several local specimens soon after they were hatched, and rushed them to the REMS laboratory, which tested for Barium-140. These preliminary tests found several picocuries of Ba-140, which because of its rapid half-life could only have come from a nuclear reactor, probably the nearby Indian Point facility. 20
STUDY RESULTS A. Results by Area of State. A total of 146 "Pennsylvania" teeth (defined as the mother of the tooth donor lived in Pennsylvania during pregnancy) were tested under the "new" method and technique. Of these, 17 are excluded (six born before 1980, when fallout from Nevada tests was still relatively high and eleven with insufficient enamel to produce an accurate result). The average concentration of Sr-90 for the remaining 129 Pennsylvania teeth was 4.30 picocuries, of Sr-90 per gram calcium at birth. Thois figure exceeds the 3.84 mark for 2071 teeth from all areas studied. Table 9 reveals that the 95 teeth analyzed from the tri-county area had an average of 4.61, or 20% above the U.S., and 34% higher than the rest of Pennsylvania (34 teeth, average 3.45). The 34 Pennsylvania teeth from outside the three counties are from the Philadelphia area (15), south central Pennsylvania (10 teeth), western Pennsylvania (7 teeth), and two others. Montgomery County has the highest average in the tri-county region, at 5.15 (52 teeth), while the 34 teeth from zip code 19464 in Pottstown had an average of 5.57, or 45% higher than the national standard and 62% higher than the state outside the tri-county region (5.57 vs. 3.45). The average in-body concentration of Sr-90 appears to be highest in the area closest to the Limerick plant. Figure 1 illustrates .the variation of Sr-90 levels around the state. 21
Table 9 AVERAGE SR-90 CONCENTRATION* BY REGION PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS BORN AFTER 1979 Region Teeth Avg pCi Sr90* Tri-County 95 4.61
- Montgomery Co. 52 5.15 (Pottstown, zip 19464) 34 5.57)
(Other Montgomery) 18 4.37)
- Berks 33 4.30 - Chester 10 2.76 All other Pennsylvania 34 3.45 Philadelphia area 15 3.19 (Bucks, Delaware, Philadelphia Cos.)
South Central area 10 4.15 (Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York Cos.) Western Pennsylvania 7 3.11 (Allegheny, Erie, Fayette, Washington Cos.) All Other Pennsylvania 2 3.00 Total Pennsylvania 129 4.30 All Areas Studied 2071 3.84
- Average picocuries of Strontium-90 per gram of calcium at birth B. Results Over Time.
This report noted earlier that since the mid-1960s, average Sr-90 levels had steadily fallen nationwide, but rose about 50% from the late 1980s to the late 1990s. This reversal occurred in Pennsylvania as well. Table 10 and Figure 2 show the trend ending for persons born 1986-89, then rising until the latest period, 1994-97. The rise in average Sr-90 between the two periods was 21% in the tri-county area, below the U.S. figure of 60%. 22
Table 10 TRENDS IN AVERAGE STRONTIUM-90* LEVELS SINCE 1980, BERKS, CHESTER, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES Birth Yr. Teeth Avg. Sr-90* 1980-85 7 7.66 1986-89 17 3.86 1990-93 42 4.35 1994-97 90 4.68 % Ch, 1986-89 to 1994-97 +21%
- Average picocuries of Strontium-90 per gram of calcium at birth C. Gross Beta in Precipitation. A program measuring environmental radioactivity other than Sr-90 in teeth is maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (38)
Each month, the EPA maintains levels of "gross beta" radioactivity in precipitation in several dozen U.S. cities. Gross beta represents the sum of all radioactive chemicals emitting beta particles (the others emit alpha particles and gamma rays). Sr-90 is a beta emitter. One of the cities included in the EPA report is Harrisburg PA, 60 miles west of Pottstown. Table 11 shows the average gross beta levels for the same four-year periods given in earlier Sr-90 data. Following a large drop, from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, the average rose from 1.71 to 2.48 picocuries of gross beta per liter of water, or 45%. This trend is another independent means of confirming the accuracy of the increase found in Sr-90 in local baby teeth. Table 11 AVERAGE GROSS BETA IN PRECIPITATION HARRISBURG PA, 1978-1997 Year Measurements Avg. Gross Beta* 1978-81 36 4.63 1982-85 42 1.71 1986-89 46 2.22 1990-93 48 2.03 1994-97 48 2.48
% Ch, 1982-85 to 1994-97 +45%
D. Birthweight. RPHP asked parents donating teeth to provide the child's birth weight to assess if high- or low-weight babies have unusual levels of Sr-90. Elevated Sr-90 (and other radioactivity) levels may impair fetal development, possibly leading to underweight births (at or under 5 pounds 8 ounces); and many. medical journal articles have tied unusually high birth weight (at or over 8 pounds 12 ounces) to a high risk of childhood. cancer. 23
Average Sr-90 in the tri-county area was relatively high for low-weight babies, but this finding is not significant since it only includes three subjects. Average Sr-90 for high-weight babies is actually considerably lower than the tri-county average (Table 12). Thus, there is no association yet detected between birth weight and Sr-90 level. Table 12 AVERAGE STRONTIUM-90* LEVELS BY BIRTHWEIGHT BERKS, CHESTER, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES Birth Weight Teeth Avg. Sr-90* Low (under 5 lb. 9 oz.) 3 5.76 Normal (5 lb. 9 oz. - 8 lb. 11 oz.) 79 4.84 High (8 lb. 12 oz. andover) 13 2.95
- Average picocuries of Strontium-90 per gram of calcium at birth E. Strontium-90 and Childhood Cancer Trends.
This report has already discussed rising Sr-90 rates and cancer risk, especially in children. The logical question is whether there is a statistical linkage between the two. In a previous report, RPHP showed that trends in average Sr-90 levels and childhood cancer incidence (rate of new cases) in Suffolk County, Long Island, where the Brookhaven nuclear plant is located, were nearly identical over a 10-year period, covering hundreds of baby teeth and cancer cases. (28) Since then, a similar match was. found in Ocean and Monmouth Counties in New Jersey, where the Oyster Creek plant was located, over a 14-year period. The trends in Sr-90 average and childhood cancer incidence in the tri-county area were compared using three-year groups (1987-89, 1988-90, etc.) instead of single years to enlarge the number of cases/teeth, making the comparison more meaningful. In addition, a "lag period" between exposure and diagnosis was tested. If Sr-90 increases in a given year, one would investigate any increase in childhood cancer not necessarily the same year, but more' likely several years in the future. For example, the Chernobyl accident took place in 1986, but the large rise in childhood thyroid cancer did not take place until 1990. In the tooth study near Limerick, a four-year latency proved to be the best match. Table 12 and Figure 3 show that the trends in Sr-90 and cancer incidence in tri-county children under age 10 look alike over a seven-year period. In other words, when Sr-90 increased, there was an increase in cancer incidence 0-9 four years later; decreases were followed by subsequent decreases. This finding is very similar to that in Suffolk County, Long Island; and since it involves 85 baby teeth and 261 cancer cases, it suggests a link between radiation and cancer in Berks, Chester, and Montgomery County children. More baby teeth would make future analyses of this relationship more meaningful. 24
Table 12 TRENDS IN SR-90 AND CANCER INCIDENCE 0-9 BERKS, CHESTER, AND MONTGOMERY (PA) COUNTIES FOUR-YEAR LATENCY PERIOD Avg. pCi Sr-90/g Ca Cancer Incidence Birth Year at Birth (No. Teeth) Diag. Year Rate/100,000 (Cases) 1987-89 4.19 (14) 1991-93 14.74 (85) 1988-90 3.98 (21) 1992-94 14.29 (83) 1989-91 4.11 (28) 1993-95 16.75 (98) 1990-92 4.01 (27) 1994-96 15.78 (93) 1991-93 4.51 (35) 1995-97 15.84 (94) 1992-94 4.39 (44) 1996-98 12.88 (77) 1993-95 4.72 (43) 1997-99 13.79 (83) Sources: Radiation and Public Health Project (Sr-90) and Pennsylvania State Cancer Registry (cancer). 25
DISCUSSION/IMPLICATIONS The RPHP study of Sr-90 concentrations in baby teeth of children near nuclear reactors is a landmark scientific effort, the first program of testing in-body levels of humans-living near reactors. Southeast Pennsylvania is one of two parts of the nation (the other is northern Illinois) with the highest concentration of nuclear reactors. High local rates of cancer in children and young/middle aged adults near the Limerick nuclear plant - especially in Greater Pottstown - made the area a logical, one. to examine current trends and patterns of Sr-90. The study tested 146 teeth from Pennsylvania, focusing on 129 born after 1979 (whose in-body Sr-90 is mostly from a current source, not old Nevada bomb test fallout) for which there are accurate results. Of these, 95 were from Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. The state average Sr-90 of 4.30 exceeded the national mark of 3.84, with the highest levels in the tri-county area (4.61), Montgomery County (5.15) and Pottstown (5.57). Thus, proximity to a nuclear reactor may be one factor in elevated Sr-90, with a downwind location being another (the prevailing wind near Limerick blows from the northwest, towards Montgomery County). After a long period of declining Sr-90 after the 1963 treaty ending large-scale above-ground bomb tests, averages rose in the Limerick area and other states after the late 1980s. In the tri-county region, children born in 1994-97 had an average of 21% more Sr-90 than those born 1986-89. This steady and consistent increase, documented in over 2000 teeth, must reflect a current source of radioactivity. The last underground atomic bomb test in Nevada occurred in September 1992. The only current sources of Sr-90 besides power reactors are waste (which is stored and not active in the food chain), nuclear-powered submarines (again, not in the food chain), and research reactors (there are only a few, they are small, and their number is declining). Thus, it is logical to conclude that nuclear power reactors are likely to be the principal source of the most recent Sr-90 rise, especially as reactors age and are in operation a greater percentage of the time. Perhaps the most important finding in the study is that local trends in Sr-90 are followed four years later by similar trends in childhood cancer. This suggests a linkage between radioactive emissions from nuclear plants and cancer. Testing more baby teeth and adding them to this analysis would increase the significance of this finding. Another means of assessing the cancer-strontium link is to perform a "case-control" study, i.e., compare levels of Sr-90 in children with and without cancer. RPHP has collected 95 teeth from children with cancer, and has tested 61 of these. The average Sr-90 in these teeth is roughly 50% above those for children without cancer. While these results are preliminary, they indicate that more teeth from children with cancer need to be collected to further assess this relationship. Teeth from children with cancer living in the Limerick area will be sought in the near future. 26
APPENDIX 1 DETERMINATION OF STRONTIUM-90 TO CALCIUM RATIO Strontium-90 in dedicuous teeth was determined under the direction of Hari D. Sharma, Professor Emeritus of Radiochemistry and president of REMS, Inc., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Employing a 1220-003 Quantulus Ultra Low-Level ,Liquid Scintillation Spectrometer manufactured by the Perkin Elmer Company in Massachusetts, Dr. Sharma followed the following procedure. Water-washed teeth were treated with 30 per cent hydrogen peroxide for a period of 24 hours to ensure that organic material adhering to teeth was oxidized. Teeth were then scrubbed with a hard brush for removing oxidized organic material and the fillings. Teeth are then dried at 110 degrees celsius (centigrade) and then ground to a fine powder (ball mill). It is very important to remove any filling because if left behind inside a tooth, it tends to give colored solution or dissolution in a mineral acid. The presence of colored solution reduces the efficiency of counting. Approximately 0.1 gram of the powder is weighed in a vial, then digested for a few hours with 0.5 milliliter of concentrated nitric acid along with solutions containing 5 milligrams of Sr2" and 2 milligrams of y 3+ carriers at about 110 degrees C on a sand bath. The solution is not evaporated to dryness. The digested powder is transferred to a centrifuge tube by rinsing with tritium-free water. Carbonates of Sr, Y, and Ca are precipitated by addition of a saturated solution of sodium carbonate, then centrifuged. The carbonates are repeatedly washed with a dilute solution of sodium carbonate to remove any coloration from the precipitate. The precipitate is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and the pH is adjusted to 1.5 to 2 to make a volume of 2 milliliters, of which 0.1 milliliter is set aside for the determination of calcium. The remaining 1.9 milliliters are mixed with 9.1 milliliters of scintillation cocktail Ultima Gold AB, supplied by Packard Bioscience BV in a special vial for counting. A blank with appropriate amounts of Ca 2÷, Sr 2÷, and y1 3 is prepared for recording the background. The activity in the vial with the dissolved tooth is counted four times, 100 minutes each time, for a total of 400 minutes, with the scintillation spectrometer. The machine has special features so that the background count-rate in the 400 to 1,000 channels is 2.25 +/- 0.02 counts per minute. The background has been counted for over 5,000 minutes so that the error associated with the background measurement is about 1 percent. The overall uncertainty or one sigma associated with the measurement of Sr-90 per gram of calcium is +/- 0.7 picocuries per gram of calcium, The efficiency of counting was established using a calibrated solution of Sr-90/Y-90 obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, using the following procedure. The calibrated solution is diluted in water containing a few milligrams of Sr 2÷ solution, and the count-rate from an aliquot of the solution is recorded in channel numbers ranging from 400 to 1,000 in order to determine the counting efficiency for the beta particles emitted by Sr-90 and Y-90. It is ensured that the Y-90 is in secular equilibrium with its parent Sr-90 in the solution. The counting efficiency was found to be 1.67 counts per decay of Sr-90 with 1.9 milliliters of Sr-901Y-90 solution with 25 milligrams of Ca 2÷, 5 milligrams of Sr 2÷, 2 milligrams of y 3', and 9.1 milliliters of the scintillation cocktail. The calcium content was determined by using an Inductively Coupled Plasma instrument. The analysis is provided by the University of Waterloo laboratories. 28
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RESIDENTS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT LIMERICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT'S RADIOACTIVE RELEASES INTO OUR AIR AND WATER AND ABOUT NRC'S FAILURE TO REQUIRE MORE PROTECTIVE RADIATION STANDARDS July, 2006 Letter to the Editor Residents have expressed deep concern to members of the Alliance For A Clean Envioronment about the potential harmful health impacts of Limerick Nuclear Power Plant's toxic brew of routine radiation emissions into our air and the Schuylkill River. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) determines what levels of radiation Limerick can release into our air and discharge into the river, but allows Exelon to do most of its own monitoring, testing, and reporting, with little independent verification. A video of the July 13, 2006 Limerick meeting, deepened concern more than ever, for many families living in this region, especially for their children. NRC appears to fail to take radiation's health threats seriously. July 13, NRC stated they may wait hours or even days to alert the public to evacuate after an accidental release of radiation at Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. Have they learned nothing from. the consequences of waiting for 3 days to alert the public after the Three Mile Island accident? Or from the BEIR VII report? The National Academy of Science report, the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII) report, issued June 2005, states there is no safe level of radiation. Still, instead of working to further minimize our region's risk from Limerick's radiation emissions, NRC appears to be attempting to simply minimize concern. NRC's denial of serious health threats from radiation exposure unnecessarily jeopardizes public health. NRC needs to start to value public health more than the interests of the nuclear industry. It doesn't serve the public's interest if NRC fails to immediately inform the region's families of unplanned radiation releases from the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant, whether it is from an accident or terrorist attack. The public needs and deserves more protective standards and immediate notification of any accidental radiation release from Limerick. I also encourage everyone in this region to contact federal officials and request an investigation into NRC's policies and procedures on permissible radiation limits, and their failure to revise, outdated, unprotective standards. Donna Cuthbert ACE Vice President
A Radiologist's Comments On Radiation Health Impacts Beth Rapczynski's statement that nuclear plants like Limerick have been proven harmless (Forum, April 29) is not supported by medical evidence. As a retired radiologist, I understand that any exposure to radiation carries a risk of disease. The radiation physicians use to diagnose and treat illness carry a risk. Companies continue to produce new X-ray machines that yield less radiation and reduce doses, so that fewer people will develop cancer after exposure. We try especially hard not to expose young children to radiation. Dental X-rays aren't taken until the child is of school age. Doctors are now cautious about giving CAT scans to children, unless they are absolutely necessary. Radiation exposures damage cells and cause them to mutate, sometimes leading to cancer. The radiation produced in nuclear plants like Limerick includes over 100 harmful chemicals that damage various organs of thebody. Strontium-90 attaches to the bone and enters the bone marrow. Plutonium-239 seeks out the lung. Iodine-131 enters the thyroid gland. Cesium-137 disperses itself in all the soft tissues. Even at low doses, these chemicals are toxic to human health, especially to children. We should learn from the experience of atomic bomb test fallout, which is the same radiation produced in nuclear plants, and find out the true cancer risk from Limerick. We have a serious cancer problem in this area. Professional research efforts like the Tooth Fairy
- Project should be supported.
Fred Winter, MD ,}}