Re: [Know_Nukes] Errors in NRC TMI Factsheet

[StevenFrey@AOL.COM]

There are so many inaccuracies and unsubstantiated 

allusions/claims/conspiracymongerings in this posting 

from Norm that it almost seems pointless to bother 

responding to it. But a few comments anyway:



1) no metal fumes were released from TMI. Only noble 

gases and at most a trace amount of I-131 were released. 

The I-131 remains debatable if any was actually released at 

all. Hence, the claims of metallic tastings have no known  

medical connection to the TMI accident.



2) the morning of the accident, the atmospheric stability 

class at the site was that of a near inversion and the air 

was as still as can be. If anything was released, particularly 

particulates, they would not have been expected to travel 

far enough to affect the public, even in nearly Royalton. 

In fact, no radioactivity from TMI was found in any vegetation 

or meat or on any roof, vehicle, street or other types of 

surfaces outside the plant buildings.



3) Cancer morbidity/mortality attributable to radiation did not 

go up around TMI in 1979, nor have they gone up since. Every 

claim to the contrary has not stood the test of science or 

the law.



4) Reports of hair loss, vomiting, and pet death, if true, likely 

were the result of hysteria fanned by the news media and 

anti-nuclear activists. Or opportunistic pet shop owners.



5) why this article now? Because the 25th anniversary 

of the accident at TMI comes up this month? And since 

it has been 25 years, once again, where are all the cancers? 

Harrisburg, Middletown, Royalton, Hershey, and all of the 

rest of Pennsylvania seem to be doing just fine.



I worked as a radiological engineer and radioanalyst at TMI 

from 1982 through mid 1984. Many of the things cited in the 

article posted here by Mr. Cohen do not square with the 

facts of the situation as I came to know it, for what that's worth.



Steve Frey



In a message dated 3/7/2004 8:02:41 PM Pacific Standard Time, 

crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM writes:



> "By mid-morning, citizens (many who had not heard

> about the accident) were reporting a metallic taste in

> their mouths."? This is the first I have ever heard of

> this.  Is this to imply their was a release of

> radioactive material from the TMI plant?

> 

> Which is only exceeded by "Dr. Wing reported that

> "...there were reports of erythema, hair loss,

> vomiting, and pet death near TMI at the time of the

> accident..."

> 

> I do believe that anyone outside of the anti-nuclear

> community that believe there was an increase of cancer

> deaths.

> 

> --- Norm Cohen <ncohen12@comcast.net> wrote:

> >

>