Anti article re: Taiwanese exposures

["Jim Hardeman" <Jim_Hardeman@dnr.state.ga.us>]

Folks ?



Thought y'all might "enjoy" (that's probably not the right word) the attached article ...



URL = http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/07/26/1090807562.htm



Jim Hardeman

Jim_Hardeman@dnr.state.ga.us 



================



Taiwan 

 

Radioactive homes pose rising threat, professor reveals 

Statistics show over 7,000 affected by living in buildings with contaminated steel beams 

2004-07-26 / Taiwan News, Staff Writer / 

 

More than 7,000 people over the past ten years have suffered health problems as a result of living in buildings that were constructed from radioactive material, and the numbers are increasing, according statistics revealed yesterday. 



Such buildings were erected with the use of steel beams that leak radioactive emissions. According to the figures, females tend to be more vulnerable to the harmful emissions than males, as are persons under the age of 30. 



In an address at an forum hosted by the Taiwan Association Against Radioactivity, Professor Chang Wu-hsiu called attention to statistics for the period 1983 and 2002 which showed that 4,000 people had been directly affected, while another 3,000 were indirectly harmed as a result of residing in radioactive buildings. 



"I have learned that more than 100 people who lived in radioactive houses developed cancer," Chang said, adding that he believed this was the because of the radioactive environment in which they lived. 



"In Japan, there have been no reports of women living in radioactive buildings developing uterine cancer, but this phenomenon has occurred in Taiwan, Chang said. "We are still examining the reasons for the occurrence, but based on the evidence, women are more likely, under these circumstances, to develop cancer than men. Also, persons under 30 residing in radioactive houses, have a greater chance of contracting cancer," he disclosed. 



To date, only private organizations have been pursuing the issue of people being affected by radiation from buildings. According to Wang Yu-lin, Chairman of the Taiwan Association Against Radioactivity Wang Yu-lin, this is a very special area of concern in the international arena, and an appropriate way of dealing with the problem is still being sought. 



Expressing the view that the government is reluctant to help exposed victims, Wang said that "if the government does not do it, then we will. 



Meanwhile, the Taiwan Association Against Radioactivity is also urging the Atomic Energy Council under the Executive Yuan to consider modifying the related law on radioactive buildings so as to give some protection to residents. The Atomic Energy Council has said that it will consider the suggestion. 



Around twelve years ago, some 157 residential buildings in Taipei were found to be emitting radiation, causing 4,000 people be affected. 





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