AP Item On Thyroid Cancer

[Andy Hull <hull@mail.sep.bnl.gov>]

While on holiday in California this past week, I noted the following AP
item  in the Marin Independent Journal, Monday, December 22, 1997:

BOMB TESTS RAISED CANCER RISK

Washington-Children who drank large amounts of milk during the military's
atom bomb tests in the mid-1950s face roughly the same increase in thyroid
cancer at risk as those who lived downwind of the tests, said a new
analysis of a federal study on fallout.

Roughly 55 million American were younger than 14 in 1952, when the military
began tests yielding 150 million curies of fallout.  This population is at
greatest risk, said the author of the analysis, Owen Hoffman.

The federal study was released by the National Cancer Institute in October
after USA Today  reported key findings.

The study showed than everyone in the United States most likely absorbed an
average of two rads of radiation, which falls on vegetation and
concentrates in milk.  Meagher County, MOnt., got the highest average
dowse, 16 rads.  Those in 24 other counties in Rocky Mountain states got
nearly as much.

In terms of thyroid cancer risk, Hoffman said, the distinction be\tween two
rads and 16 rads many not matter. "It's not that great a difference," he said.

Hoffman's analysis, disclosed this week end at the first meeting of the
National Academy of Science's Committee on Exp[osure of the American People
to I-131 from Nevada Atomic Tests--much of which was closed to the public--
also offered a new calculations showing fallout may be responsible for
12,000 to 208,000 additional thyroid cancer cases nationwide, half of which
have not yet emerged.

Previous studies suggested the greater cancer risk affected only 50-,000 to
75,000.

Ordinarily, thyroid cancer affects three of 100,000 people each year,
killing about 1,000. The disease, often without symptoms except for a mall
lump in the neck, is readily treated; 95 percent of people live five years
after diagnosis.

The new estimated don't address the risk of thyroid ailments other than
cancer.

Happy New Year to all Radsafers,
Andy Hull
S&EP-BNL
Ph  516-344-4210
Fax 516-344-3105