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RE: Norm's final words on dead fish
Legionnaire's disease
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Overview | Treatment | Images
Definition
An acute respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophilia, which can cause a broad spectrum of disease from mild cough and fever to a serious pneumonia.
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Alternative names
Legionella pneumonia; Pontiac fever
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Causes, incidences, and risk factors
The bacteria have been found in water delivery systems and can survive in the warm, moist, air conditioning systems of large buildings including hospitals. The infection is transmitted through the respiratory route. Person to person spread has not been proven.
>From the onset of symptoms, a worsening of the condition is typical during the first 4 to 6 days, with improvement starting in another 4 to 5 days. Most infection occurs in middle-aged or older people, although it has been reported in children. Typically, the disease is less severe in children.
Risk factors include cigarette smoking; underlying diseases such as renal failure, cancer, diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; people with suppressed immune systems from chemotherapy, steroid medications or diseases such as cancer and leukemia; alcoholism; being middle-aged or elderly, and in chronically ventilated patients.
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Prevention
Active surveillance of infections that were acquired within a hospital can lead to the treatment of contaminated water delivery systems. Detection and treatment of sources outside hospitals usually occurs during or after an epidemic has happened.
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Symptoms
Muscle aches and stiffness
Joint pain
Loss of energy
General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
Headache
Fever
Shaking chills
Nonproductive cough
Coughing of blood
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Diarrhea
Ataxia (lack of coordination)
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Signs and tests
Listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation) reveals fine crackles.
Sputum DFA (direct fluorescent antibody) staining shows Legionella.
The causative organism may be cultured from the airway.
Urine tests for the bacteria (urine antigen test) may be positive.
Chest X-ray shows pneumonia.
Arterial blood gas analysis may show low concentrations of oxygen.
CBC shows an increased white blood cell count.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is increased.
Low serum sodium
Liver function tests may show moderate elevation.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Flanigan, Floyd [mailto:Floyd.Flanigan@fernald.gov]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 6:39 AM
To: 'Norman Cohen'; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: RE: Norm's final words on dead fish
As to the legionaire's issue:The desease got it's name from an American Legion Post down wind from a cooling tower which bred the bacteria which causes the desease.Several of those whom frequented the post contracted the desease and died , hence the name.
-----Original Message-----
From: Norman Cohen [mailto:ncohen12@HOME.COM]
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 2:13 PM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Norm's final words on dead fish
Hi all,
A couple of last points.
(1) I found in my email files the copy of the statement of the Delaware
Riverkeeper to the NJ DEP on the renewal of Salem's permit. Its 371K, a
Word file, and contains much of the information I've talked about, with
references. If youwant it, pls email me offlist.
(2) I agree that other types plants and facilities use water (I might be
anti-nuke, doesn't mean I'm dumb). That was why the Congress passed the
Clean Water Act, sections 316(a) and (b). 316(b) says that all
facilities must use "the best technology available to minimize adverse
impacts to the environment". All nukes built after 1972, when the CWA
passed, use cooling towers. Hope Creek, for example is one. Salem 1/2
were built before the CWA.
(2a) Part of the concern is the volume of water used by the intake
system. Salem Units 1 and 2 together use 3.024 BILLION gallons of water
EACH DAY to cool the plants. In one year, water equal to the entire
volume of the Delaware Bay is used in cooling Salem 1/2. I suggest that
other examples of cooling water use many have mentioned, do not use such
tremendous volumes of water.
(3) Thermal shock; There is a difference of about 10 degrees F between
intake and exhaust water. This is high enough to kill marine life. No
one, including PSEG, argues this.
(4) Save the Plankton! I was not talking about plankton, but about
other small critters that fit thru the screens.
(5) Screens and buckets, etc: Yes, the screens keep fish from being
cooked. But fish also die from being smashed onto the screens. Some
nukes kill sea turtles and other endangered species. See the NIRS
report.
(6) Expertise: I agree that you all know your facts about radiation, and
know way more than I do. But I would argue that perhaps you all don't
know everything about other environmental issues. So perhaps, in this
one case, I might have more information and knowledge than some of you.
I've lived with 316(b) issues for 3 years, as we prepared for the
renewal of Salem's permits. I've met with the EPA, with NJDEP, with
PSEG. While you all may think I'm talking thru my bald head on radiation
issues, since I don't have a science degree or nuclear work experience,
I hope you'll at least consider I do know what I'm talking about on the
fishkill/Clean Water Act issues.
(7) I do agree with Ruth (tho I'd put it nicer) that fishkills are not
the best issue to close a nuke plant on. What makes Salem 1/2 unique is
not just dead fish, but a constellation of issues and concerns. Finally,
groups that support making PSEG build cooling towers are not
anti-nuclear. If PSEG built the towers, groups like the Riverkeeper
would not oppsoe the continuing operation of the nukes.
(8) Someone mentioned Legionaires disease and cooling towers. I'd like
to hear more about that, as that is something I'm unaware of.
I'll answer replies off-list to avoid clogging up the works more than I
already have.
Peace
Norm
--
Coalition for Peace and Justice and the UNPLUG Salem Campaign; 321 Barr
Ave., Linwood, NJ 08221; 609-601-8537 or 609-601-8583 (8583: fax, answer
machine); ncohen12@home.com UNPLUG SALEM WEBSITE:
http://www.unplugsalem.org/ COALITION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE WEBSITE:
http:/www.coalitionforpeaceandjustice.org The Coalition for Peace and
Justice is a chapter of Peace Action.
"First they ignore you; Then they laugh at you; Then they fight you;
Then you win. (Gandhi) "Why walk when you can fly?" (Mary Chapin
Carpenter)
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