[ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] 19 of 21 plaintiffs recognized as A-bomb radiation disease sufferers

[Sandy Perle]

Index:

19 of 21 plaintiffs recognized as A-bomb radiation disease sufferers
Report shows radiation in Utah not caused by fire
First Course Developed To 'Train The Trainers' About Radiation 
New system guarantees less radiation during X-rays 
Port of Wilmington to install radiation detectors
Car rams barrier at ORNL nuclear weapons plant, driver flees
Nuclear cleanup costs worry officials 
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19 of 21 plaintiffs recognized as A-bomb radiation disease sufferers

(Kyodo) _ The Kumamoto District Court on Monday repealed most of the 
state decision not to recognize 21 people in Kumamoto Prefecture who 
suffered in the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as 
radiation casualties. 

Recognizing 19 of 21 plaintiffs as radiation disease sufferers, 
Presiding Judge Hiroshi Ishii said the state should examine the 
application for the disease recognition comprehensively by 
considering how an applicant was bombed and how he or she has lived 
since then. 

It was the sixth court decision on similar suits filed across Japan 
by those rejected as being recognized as radiation disease sufferers, 
in which the appropriateness of the state's recognition criteria for 
the disease is at issue. 

Courts ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in all six suits. 

Under the criteria, the government decides if an applicant is a 
sufferer based on his or her exposure dose estimated by his or her 
distance from the hypocenter under the DS86 dosimetry system as well 
as the person's sex and age. 

Ishii said the criteria are considered one of the recognition 
standards for the disease. 

The latest ruling is likely to affect discussions at the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party's policy panel, which plans to come up with 
a broader redress for the ailing A-bomb survivors as early as late 
August. 

The plaintiffs comprised six survivors of the Aug. 6 Hiroshima 
bombing and 15 of the Aug. 9 Nagasaki attack, who were exposed to 
radiation 1 to 4.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. Of them, six are 
dead. 

Although they have developed cancer, thyroid dysfunction and other 
problems, their requests to be certified as radiation disease 
sufferers entitled to a monthly 137,000 yen in special medical 
allowances, were turned down between 2002 and 2005. 

They argued that internal exposure to residual radiation is 
underestimated under the current criteria and that their sickness is 
attributable to nothing but radiation effects, citing cases of acute 
symptoms such as hair loss and vomiting even among those who were far 
from the hypocenter. 

The government has said it relies on internationally recognized 
criteria and the plaintiffs' age and other factors can be blamed for 
their illness now that decades have passed since the atomic bombings.
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Report shows radiation in Utah not caused by fire

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Jul 30 -- Radiation released into the air in 
southern Utah during several recent wildfires came from naturally 
occurring material and not from the fires, according to a University 
of Nevada, Las Vegas study.

>From July 5 to July 10, federal radiation monitors of the Community 
Environmental Monitoring Program recorded spikes in gamma radiation 
at Milford, with readings at times far above normal. 

Usually, this form of radiation is measured at 20 or 21 microrems per 
hour. But during that period the readings reached as much as 136.8 
microrems per hour. However, that's still not high enough to cause 
health effects. Some residents had feared the increase in radiation 
in the air had been caused by wildfires.

Downwinder groups cited the heavy radiation that fell on the region 
during open-air nuclear testing at the nearby Nevada Test in the 
1950s and early '60s.

But the UNLV report released on July 20 seemed to rule out fallout 
and an official from the National Nuclear Security Administration 
agrees with the report.

The study was conducted by the UNLV health physics department, 
Radiation Services Laboratory. After analyzing air samples collected 
in Milford, the scientists concluded fallout was not involved.

"Initial screening by gamma spectroscopy did not indicate the 
presence of unusual levels of man-made radionuclides in these 
filters," the report said. Cesium-137, which is a long-lived 
component of fallout, "was not detectable in any of the filter 
samples analyzed."

However, several naturally occurring radioactive substances were 
identified in the samples: Beryllium-7, produced in the upper 
atmosphere; Lead-212 and Lead-214 derived from the decay of natural 
uranium and thorium, and Potassium-40, "which is present in 
atmospheric dust particles and virtually all other types of 
geological materials."

Also tentatively identified were Uranium-235 and Radium-226, natural 
materials that were found in only small amounts.

"Other natural (radioactive) components are present only in variable 
and relatively small amounts, and no man-made radionuclides were 
detected," the report concludes.

"It's all natural. They did not detect any radiation that could be 
associated with worldwide fallout," said Darwin Morgan, a spokesman 
for the NNSA in Las Vegas.
 -----------------

First Course Developed To 'Train The Trainers' About Radiation And 
Nuclear Exposure

Science Daily - In the event of a radiation or nuclear attack by 
terrorists, it will be essential to provide the public with accurate 
information on risks and how to minimize health effects. Working with 
a team of the nation's top radiation biologists, a scientist at Wake 
Forest University School of Medicine is developing an Internet-based 
training course to help radiation experts meet this challenge. The 
course, which will also be available on CD, will provide critical 
information that professionals in radiological sciences need to act 
as trainers and spokespersons during a radiologic or nuclear 
incident.

"The vast majority of general practitioners, emergency responders, 
and even many radiologists, have little understanding of the health 
consequences of a radiological or nuclear event," said lead 
researcher Michael Robbins, Ph.D., a professor and the section head 
of radiation biology in the department of radiation oncology at Wake 
Forest University School of Medicine. "Given the recent events in the 
geopolitical climate, it now appears increasingly likely that a 
terrorist-generated radiological or nuclear event could occur within 
the US. Efforts need to be made to provide the public, and more 
specifically key professionals, with accurate information about the 
health consequences of such an event."

Robbins, a leading radiation biologist who studies the long-term 
effects of radiation, will provide the introductory lecture in the 
eight-hour course. Using data from atomic bomb and radiation exposure 
survivors, he will give basic knowledge of radiation and its 
biological effects, and medical management of an exposure. 

William McBride, D. Sc., vice-chair for experimental radiation 
oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, will give the 
second lecture on cell death in radiation. McBride is the past 
president of the Radiation Research Society, the premier U.S. 
scientific organization in the area of radiation biology, chemistry 
and physics.

Joel Greenberger, M.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, will give 
the third lecture on oxidative stress and radiation biology. 
Greenberger is the chair of the department of radiation oncology and 
the deputy of the Lung Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh. 
He is also world-renowned for his research in the use of antioxidant 
enzymes in treating radiation-induced injury.

Jeffrey Schwartz, Ph.D., from the University of Washington, will 
provide the fourth lecture on the role of bone marrow transplantation 
in a radiation incident. Schwartz is a radiation biologist from one 
of the leading bone marrow transplant centers in the U.S., the Fred 
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

The fifth lecture will be addressed by Alan D'Andrea, M.D., chief, 
Division of Genomic Stability and DNA Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer 
Institute at Harvard University, regarding the DNA damage response. 
D'Andrea has extensively researched rare human genetic diseases and 
has developed unique models for investigating the cellular response 
to radiation.

Jacqueline Williams, Ph.D., from the University of Rochester, will 
lead the sixth lecture on tissue damage following low doses of 
radiation. Williams has an international reputation in the 
pathogenesis and treatment of radiation-induced late effects, 
particularly in the brain and lungs, and is currently program 
director of Radiation Medicine, Center for Disaster Medicine and 
Emergency Preparedness, Rochester, N.Y. 

Stephen Brown, M.D., from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Wayne 
State Medical School in Detroit, has more than 15 years experience in 
radiation biology research. He is giving the seventh lecture on lung, 
kidney and brain response to radiation.

The eighth and final lecture, given by Eric Hall, D.Phil., D.Sc., 
from Columbia University, will be on the cancer-causing effects of 
long-term exposure to low doses of radiation. Hall is director of the 
Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, and author of 
one of the most widely used sources for radiation biology education, 
"Radiobiology for the Radiologist."

"The medical community will benefit greatly from having relevant 
information from which to base an appropriate response to the various 
risks posed by a radiological terrorist event. Such a program is not 
currently available," said Robbins.

The course will be available free and is anticipated to be completed 
by April 2008. Funding for the project has been provided by the 
Radiological Society of North America Research and Education 
Foundation.
----------------

New system guarantees less radiation during X-rays 

The Indian Express, Jul 30 - BARC develops system that is user-
friendly for doctors and safe On patients; but DMIS yet to hit market 
as high cost is an issue
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has developed a digital 
medical imaging system (DMIS) which will ensure minimum exposure to 
radiation during X-rays. 

Even though X-ray films are already a thing of the past for many 
private hospitals after the introduction of digital X-ray, the high 
cost of the machine still keeps it out of reach for most government 
hospitals. However, the new system developed by BARC promises a cost-
effective diagnostic tool for both government hospitals and small 
private clinics that still use conventional X-ray machines. 

The new system comes as a boon as most X-ray units in the county can 
now do away with high levels of radiation to the patients and the 
cumbersome process of film development and maintenance. 

Unlike other countries, it is not mandatory for doctors in India to 
make their patients aware of the radiation levels. "In Korea, 
patients are made aware of the radiation levels they are exposed to; 
but in India, even technicians in the X-ray room are unaware of it," 
said Dr A Chaube, head of radiology department in BARC Hospital. 

"When a body is exposed to radiation, it accepts the energy emitted 
and the same is deposited in the DNA of the cells which do not affect 
a person immediately, but there are chances of the person becoming a 
victim of cancer, if exposed to high levels of radiation over a long 
period of time," added Dr Chaube. 

According to Dr Chaube, in the new user-friendly and maintenance-free 
multi-purpose DMIS the radiation levels are 1/20 times less than the 
conventional X-ray and there is no need for any retakes. "We can 
digitally enhance the picture and store the radiography as movie 
images and we are also saved from being exposed to radiation 
everyday," said Dr Chaube. 

Over a 1,000 patients have already benefited from the DMIS system. 
"The doctors' job has been made easy with the instant multi- view 
images that help in quick diagnosis." 

Unlike conventional X-rays where the image is processed and then put 
on the film and viewed in the light box, the new system will capture 
live images in an illuminated room. 

The X-ray generator, tested at par with international standards is 
computer controlled and can be operated by a remote. The DMIS can 
easily be retrofitted in the existing radiographic centers in the 
country. 

"It is capable of taking pulse radiography and digital fluoroscopy. 
Even in angiography one can now see the movement of barium which 
makes the diognasis more accurate especially in cases of deep-seated 
soft tissue cancer," said Dr Chaube. 

DMIS is also safe for pregnant mothers as the levels of radiation are 
reduced. Even though the system is yet to hit the market, as price is 
still an issue, Dr Chaube promises that it will be available soon.
-------------

Port of Wilmington to install radiation detectors

Wilmington (The News Journal) Jul 28 - Part of a strengthened 
homeland security effort, radiation detectors will be installed at 
the Port of Wilmington's exit gates in August, port officials said 
this week.

Known as radiation portal monitors, the devices will scan imported 
containers for the presence of nuclear and radioactive materials as 
trucks drive cargos out of the port. The installation is expected to 
finish in September, port officials said at the Diamond State Port 
Corp.'s board meeting Friday.

The detectors are Delaware's contribution to the Radiation Portal 
Monitor Project, established by the Department of Homeland Security's 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2002. About 1,000 of the 
monitors have been installed, Homeland Security Secretary Michael 
Chertoff said last week.

The goal of the federal program is to screen 100 percent of all 
vehicles, cargo and mail coming through the nation's 325 ports of 
entry, said Customs and Border Protection spokesman Bill Anthony. By 
the end of 2008, the installations will be 98 percent complete, he 
said.

"We have a dual responsibility: one is to keep terrorist weapons out 
of the country, and the other is to facilitate the flow of legitimate 
trade and travel," Anthony said. "The portal monitor does something 
that the physical inspections don't, and that is it doesn't slow down 
traffic."

The $300,000 monitors -- pairs of 4-foot-by-16-foot panels that 
detect radiation emissions when vehicles drive through them -- are 
intended to alert customs officials to contraband explosives packaged 
with radioactive materials, also known as dirty bombs.

But other items may set off the sensitive devices.

"Many common imported goods are either intentionally or naturally 
radioactive," Joseph McDonald, a laboratory fellow at the Pacific 
Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wa., wrote in a 2004 
article. The national laboratory is contracted by the Department of 
Homeland Security to install the monitors. "Commercial shipments of 
ceramic-glazed materials, abrasives, road salt, and even kitty 
litter, for example, contain naturally occurring radionuclides that 
may trigger false alarms from radiation detectors."

Tom Keefer, the port's deputy executive director, said the imported 
containers leaving the Port of Wilmington will be filled primarily 
with bananas and tropical fruits from Dole and Chiquita, and there is 
some concern the fruit could set off alarms.

"The potassium in the banana might initially be a challenge in the 
sensitivity readings," Keefer said.

When an alert goes off, customs inspectors will have to inspect the 
container with hand-held devices that narrow down the type of 
radiation emitted, Anthony said.

There also may be some kinks in traffic flow when the devices first 
go into use, but the port is confident it can work those out with 
customs officials, said Keefer.

"There is concern that there could initially be some traffic related 
issues, but I think we'll be able to work through them," he said. 
"They understand how important it is to move cargo through the gate."
---------------

Car rams barrier at ORNL nuclear weapons plant, driver flees

OAK RIDGE, Tennessee (AP) Jul 30 -- A driver ran a checkpoint at a 
nuclear weapons plant early Monday and crashed into a barrier, then 
fled on foot, authorities said.

Guards at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant, a primary storehouse for 
bomb-grade uranium, said the man "appeared to be impaired in some 
way" when they stopped him around 5 a.m. at a security checkpoint 
near a rear entrance, spokesman Bill Wilburn said.

They asked him for identification, but the man hit the gas and drove 
through the checkpoint, then crashed into security barriers a short 
distance away, Wilburn said.

"When he hit that, he jumped out of the car and ran away. He left the 
car there with the engine still running," Wilburn said. He said the 
guards told him the car had been hot-wired.

Wilburn said no weapons were in the car. "They checked the car very 
thoroughly before they moved it. They found nothing," he said.

Oak Ridge police were searching for the driver.

Steve Wyatt, spokesman for the National Nuclear Security 
Administration in Oak Ridge, which oversees the Y-12 plant, 
downplayed the crash, saying it was "next to nothing." The plant 
makes and dismantles uranium parts in nuclear warheads. 
---------------

Nuclear cleanup costs worry officials 

MIAMISBURG (AP) Jul 30 - A cost overrun in a decade-long cleanup of a 
former nuclear weapons plant has local officials worried about the 
project's completion.

Congress allocated $30 million for the cleanup of a landfill in the 
old Mound nuclear weapons plant in Miamisburg near Dayton. But the 
cost of the landfill cleanup is now expected to reach about $32.5 
million.

That has the Miamisburg Mound Community Improvement Corp. worried the 
federal government will walk away from the project before it's done.

It's important to find the remaining money to do the job right, said 
corporation president Mike Grauwelman, who wants to meet with federal 
energy officials.

The Department of Energy awarded a $25.9 million contract to Idaho-
based Accelerated Remediation Co. last year to clean up the landfill. 
The company found the contamination was more widespread than expected 
during excavations.

The government says radioactive and chemical contamination in the 
landfill is contained and isn't a health threat.
-----------------------------------------
Sander C. Perle
President
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc.
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614 

Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714  Extension 2306
Fax:(949) 296-1144

E-Mail: sperle at dosimetry.com
E-Mail: sandyfl at cox.net 

Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/