[ RadSafe ] Dr. Ernest Sternglass – pioneering researcher into radioactive emissions

[Roger Helbig]

Appears like Dr Sternglass has passed away or at least this seems to
look like an obituary - if so, he appears headed for anti-nuclear
sainthood like the late Sister Rosalie Bertell.

Roger Helbig

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: nuclear-news <comment-reply at wordpress.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 6:50 PM
Subject: [New post] Dr. Ernest Sternglass – pioneering researcher into
radioactive emissions
To: rwhelbig at gmail.com


Christina MacPherson posted: "Nuclear Shutdown News – October 2015,
ObRag, by MICHAEL STEINBERG on NOVEMBER 12, 2015 Nuclear Shutdown News
chronicles the decline of the nuclear power industry in the US and
beyond, and highlights the efforts of those who are working to create
a nuclear"


New post on nuclear-news

Dr. Ernest Sternglass – pioneering researcher into radioactive emissions

by Christina MacPherson

Nuclear Shutdown News – October 2015, ObRag, by MICHAEL STEINBERG on
NOVEMBER 12, 2015 Nuclear Shutdown News chronicles the decline of the
nuclear power industry in the US and beyond, and highlights the
efforts of those who are working to create a nuclear free future.

Millstone and Me: 2015...... The Millstone Nuclear Power Plant began
operating in 1970. It wasn’t long before its notoriety began too, as
its design was similar to Fukushima’s.

During the mid 1970s, the plant’s owner and operator,  CT’s Northeast
Utilities was running Millstone reactor 1, with defective fuel rods,
which resulted in massive releases of radiation into the air and
water. The US Nuclear Regulator Commission NRC) knew of these
releases, but said they were “within acceptable limits.”

Enter Sternglass Knowledge of these massive releases eventually made
their way to Dr. Ernest Sternglass – who had been a nuclear energy
proponent who worked for Westinghouse, which was building some of the
first US nuclear power plants. One of these was Shippingport in
Pennsylvania.

At first Sternglass believed that radioactive emissions from this nuke
plant would be too low to harm people. Soon, however, he began to
question this. First of all, reported releases from the plant were
significantly higher than authorities had predicted.

This led Sternglass to examine vital statistics in populations living
near the plant. There he found spikes in cancer rates emerging, as
well in other health problems such a infant mortality and birth
defects.

When Sternglass reported these findings to his employer, he quickly
became persona non gratain the nuclear power industry.

Dr. Sternglass went on to become professor of radiological studies at
the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

When Sternglass received the information about the Millstone ‘70s
radioactive releases, and examined them, he became alarmed. These
turned out to be the highest annual releases from a US nuclear power
plant with the exception of Three Mile Island during its partial
meltdown in 1979.

As with Shippingport, Sternglass analyzed vital statistics in
communities surrounding Millstone. Again he found disturbing rises in
death rates and infant mortality, as well all cancers and specific
ones like leukemia and thyroid cancer.

Dr, Sternglass went public with his findings, and initially they
caused quite a stir around Connecticut and New England. There were
calls for further investigations and cries for the permanent shutdown
of Millstone.

Dr. Ernest Sternglass continued his pioneering work into the effects
of radiation on human health, which he reported in his brilliant book
Secret Fallout: From Hiroshima To Three Mile Island.  Dr. Sternglass
died in 2014.

Instead of shutting down Millstone reactor 1, Northeast Utilities
started up 2 more reactors. In the1990s chronic mismanagement and
harassment of whistle-blowers landed Millstone on the cover of Time
Magazine and forced the permanent closure of reactor one.

All its high level nuclear waste, as well as that of the other 2
units, remains on site, making it a massive nuclear dumpsite as well.

Unit 2 turned 40 this year, meaning it has exceeded the years it was
designed to operate. Unit 3 will turn 30 next year.

Cancer rates remain high in the region, Dr, Sternglass helped start
the Radiation and Public Health Project, which continues his work and
has produced studies showing that people living within 50 miles of
nuclear plnt are more likely to develop cancer and that after nuclear
plants permanently shut down, cancer rates in populations around them
begin to fall.

Sources:  Millstone and Me: Sex, Lies, and Radiation in Southeast
Connecticut; 1998, Black Rain Press.

Radiation and Public Health Project:  www.radiation.org
http://obrag.org/?p=100956#.VkTv49IrLGg

Christina MacPherson | November 12, 2015 at 7:21 pm | Categories:
history, radiation | URL: http://wp.me/phgse-l5b

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