[ RadSafe ] body dose - witholding data

Fri Feb 25 10:13:28 CST 2011

It was not just DOE, secrecy of course went all the way back to War II and the MED.  The AEC was formed in 1946, and they downplayed concerns by the States and their own safety people as early as 1949 that there were significant issues in uranium mines and mills.  AEC would only allow the State and Public Health Service to collect radon samples in mines if they did not discuss the results with the miners.(1)  It was verified by 1951 that radon progeny were responsible for large doses to the lungs (i.e., John Harley), yet it was not until 1967 that rules were passed for underground uranium miners.  AEC morphed into NRC, ERDA, and DOE later.  It is not known how many lives could have been saved if basic ventilation measures were put in place sooner.  AEC claimed it lacked authority over the mines, and left it for the states to handle, and they of course did not have the expertise or resources to take that on.  The story goes on and on and there is no time to go further here...

BTW, those regulations for underground uranium miners are still on the MSHA books at 30 CFR 57.5005 - .5047. - ICRP 2-based limits that have separate limits for inhalation (4 WLM/y ~= 5 rem), separate (i.e. additional) limit for gamma (5 rem), only required to make ANNUAL measurements for gamma, only badge workers if > 2 mR/h, no summation of doses, and of course, no ALARA.  There is no requirement to monitor for long-lived progeny (Pb-210 and Po-210) in ore dust, they may be ingesting and there is no requirement for tracking.  These regs, IMHO, do not provide equal protection to the miners as other radiation workers get today under NRC, DOE, or State regulations based on ICRP 26/30 or 60 or 103 paradigms.  Guidance (ANSI N13.8) cited in the regulations for making WL measurements, etc. has not been updated since 1973.  HPS does have a group working on updating that guidance.  IAEA has updated guidance, as does Australia and others.

As a state regulator in a materials program, we have no authority over uranium mining.  The Atomic Energy Act is clear that the authority under the Act "starts after removal from its place in nature."  There is some sporadic underground uranium mining in the last few years, but it is expected to increase at least a little since the price of uranium is going up and the need for fuel is increasing based on world demand.

(1) Mogren, Eric.  "Warm Sands, Uranium Mill Tailings Policy in the Atomic West".  University of New Mexico Press. 2002

Phil Egidi
CDPHE

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Mark S. Sasser
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 11:06 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] body dose

It is sad DOE was able to hide items like this I know from working nukes we all 
have the right to know, and if a company try to hide something it is very bad 
thing.
each night I listen to him cough for hours trying to get to sleep. 
I hear him up around midnight sitting in his chair in the living room trying to 
get his lungs clear.
we all know PU and 241am is bad to keep in your body one year his dose report 
went up in the late 70's to his lungs..
We both worked with guys who were never allowed in rad zones for life do to over 
exposures, two men I worked with had tank go critical it set off the ARMs at the 
badge house 5 miles away. they both revived life dose for neutron. I worked on 
the cleanup in 76 after the line blew apart and McClusky got the big uptake he 
could peg a poppy probe with a tear drop . we lost the entire floor, it was so 
bad we ended up painting the floor white and sealing the room off,
but as it is I could go on and on with it even in the tank farms but heck if it 
were not for handford the war would have went on for a long time. 

thank you and have a nice night

Mark S.Sasser

Cell Phone 717 926 5870

 There is no security on this earth. Only opportunity.
 At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance

----- Original Message ----
From: "Perle, Sandy" <SPerle at mirion.com>
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List 
<radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Thu, February 24, 2011 9:47:05 PM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] body dose

Hi Mark,

I expect that others on this list will be able to provide you detailed
guidance as to what the data you have provided, as well as any other
detailed information that you may have, with appropriate recommendations,
more likely in off-line communication. It appears from your comments that
your father was not provided any real information as to what occurred or
what the tracking information meant until significant time had passed.
This is not unlike other instances well documented over the past 50 years
or so. It is unfortunate but apparently very common.

I hope that others can provide you with the support and information that
you are seeking.

Regards,

Sandy

-----------------------------------
Sander C. Perle
President
Mirion Technologies
Dosimetry Services Division
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614

+1 (949) 296-2306 (Office)
+1 (949) 296-1130 (Fax)

Mirion Technologies: http://www.mirion.com/

On 2/24/11 8:28 PM, "Mark S. Sasser" <duke99301 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> I have been reviewing some letters my father had from DOE handford just
>before
>he retried in 1987
>below is some of the wording. I need some help with this please.
>
>
>Routine bio assay Measurement Results
>the results of the subject individual's routine urine measurement in 1987
>are
>consistent with those expectedfrom the previously evaluated intakes that
>occured
>in 1964 ,1966,1967.
>as reported in referenced correspondence, it is estimated that the
>individual
>has a total systemic deposition of plutonium and americium of 14% of the
>maximum
>permissible body burden in ICRP#2. in Addition, it is estimated that the
>resulting annual dose to the lung for 1987 from intake is 27% of DOE
>Radiation
>Protection Standard.
>  below all this the paper is written on the bottom this information has
>not
>been reported to the individual
>by PNL personnel DOSIMETRY.
>in 1964 it was confirmed the materiel in the chest is being in the lung .
>it
>appears to be very insoluble component that occurred on may 15 ,1964.
>
>they tracked this since that date and did not inform him of the problem
>until a
>date when documents were declassified
>
>
>
>in 1986 he was still showing 4100mrem(27% of the standard ). to his lung.
>
>my father now 84 years old and we do not know what we should do about
>what is in
>his lungs? My question is has anyone had to deal with DOE on this subject
>and
>what could be done about it?
>thank you for your time
>
>
>
>
>Mark S.Sasser
>Safety Manger
>Alara Eng.
>
>
>
>
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