Fwd: Editorial in Asbury Park Press

["Norm Cohen" <ncohen12@comcast.net>]

------- Forwarded message -------

Subject: Editorial in Asbury Park Press

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 09:49:35 EST



Dear Friends:  This editorial, written by Dr. Janette Sherman, is a good

summary of the importance of the Tooth Fairy Project in creating a safer  

nuclear

policy.  Best wishes, Joe Mangano





APP.COM - Risk to humans from nuclear-plant radiation is well documented



ASBURY PARK PRESS



Published in the Asbury Park Press 1/09/05



The "baby teeth" project has demonstrated that when seven

nuclear power plants closed, the health status of children

improved in the areas surrounding the plants.



It is irresponsible that AmerGen Energy Co., owner of the

Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey, made misleading

statements about nuclear radiation in a recent mass mailing sent

to residents.



What is quoted from the National Academy of Sciences is true:

We do have a lot of information and that information,

accumulated over decades, points to damage caused by nuclear

radiation.



It is true as well that there are natural sources of radiation

 from the earth and outer space. What is important is the

difference between "natural" radiation and that generated by

nuclear power plants. Every plant, in the course of operation,

continually gives off some 200-plus radioactive elements. Some

of these have short half-lives, some long; they emit beta, gamma

and alpha radiation of varying energies. They are taken up by

living plants, animals and humans, and concentrate in various

organs in the body.



For example, the radioactive forms of iodine (I-129 and I-131)

concentrate in the thyroid gland. Both congenital hypothyroidism

and thyroid cancer have increased in the population in proximity

to nuclear power plants.



Radioactive strontium (Sr-90) acts like calcium and

concentrates in the bones and teeth of the unborn and young

children. Sr-90 never existed before the advent of the nuclear

industry. Sr-90 is a powerful beta emitter, radiating the tissue

in which it embedded. It decays to yttrium (Y90), which gives

off a second beta particle, increasing the likelihood of damage

to cellular structures and DNA. Increasing levels of Sr-90 are

linked to increased fetal losses, neonatal deaths and cancer in

children as well as adults living in proximity to nuclear power

plants.



The AmerGen letter states: "Adverse health effects from low

doses of radiation from a nuclear power plant .'.'. cannot be

distinguished from health effects from other sources of

low-level radiation." That is why the research by the Radiation

and Public Health Project, collecting baby teeth and measuring

levels of Sr-90, has been so important. That research has proved

that Sr-90 is highest in proximity to nuclear plants, and has

linked it to increasing incidence of cancers and other adverse

health effects. Furthermore, the project has demonstrated that

when seven nuclear power plants closed, the health status of

children improved in the areas surrounding all seven plants.



Other radioactive elements interchange with nonradioactive

elements in animals and plants, and result in damage. Carbon-14,

with a half-life of some 5,000 years, accumulates in any portion

of the body or plant as it displaces a nonradioactive carbon

atom.



The European Committee on Radiation Risk has clearly

demonstrated the adverse health effects of low-level nuclear

radiation risk. High levels of nuclear radiation may kill a

cell. Low levels damage the machinery of the cell, allowing for

altered repair and the development of genetic and carcinogenic

alterations.



Hundreds of research articles have been published, linking

radioactive elements to damage to humans, animals and plants.



There are safer, less costly ways to generate electricity.

These include solar, wind, natural gas and hydroelectric power.

And lastly, conservation is important.



Some 15 to 20 percent of U.S. electrical power comes from

nuclear plants. It is very likely that if the public understood

the contribution of nuclear power to cancer in children and

adults, and fetal and neonatal loss, most citizens would be more

than willing to cut their use of electrical power by 20 percent

to prevent the illnesses and losses that so many are bearing.



Dr. Janette D. Sherman

INTERNAL MEDICINE AND TOXICOLOGY

ALEXANDRIA, VA.







-- 

Coalition for Peace and Justice

UNPLUG Salem Campaign; 321 Barr Ave, Linwood

NJ 08221; 609-601-8583; cell 609-742-0982

ncohen12@comcast.net; http://www.unplugsalem.org

http://www.coalitionforpeaceandjustice.org



"Life is a jelly donut. You don't really know what

its about until you bite into it. Then, just when you decide

its good, you drop a big glob of jelly on your best t-shirt."

Janet Evanovich





-- 

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.9 - Release Date: 1/6/05



************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To

unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the

text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,

with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/