RE: Long term effects from ionizing radiation

["Lamothe, Emelie" <lamothee@aecl.ca>]

There are many studies out there but probably would not give her the
exact type of information and reassurance that she is looking for.  Most
of it deals with radionuclide transport, transplacental transfer,
modeling and doses, some effects of huge amounts of administered
activity, some human data (very little) for large acute doses (e.g.
exposure during nuclear medicine examination), etc.  

Good contacts for more info. include the various women's group within
the industry e.g.  Women in Nuclear (WIN),  Women's Energy Networks and
the Women in the American Nuclear Society (or whatever the group is
called).  Other possible information sources are ORAU (Mike Stabin),
John Harrison (NRPB in the UK), Mel Sikov and his group at Battelle,
Audrey Wegst (Kansas but don't remember exactly where - a lit. search
would give the info).  I'm sure that there are more but my memory is
rusty - it's been awhile since I did this type of R&D for a living.

However, you may want to point out that thousands of women worldwide
work in all fields of the nuclear industry.  Most of us are only exposed
to chronic low-levels while others are exposed to higher levels.   Many
of us have had children or are currently pregnant or planning to become
pregnant within a given time frame.  Many of us have grandchildren.

I spent most of my first pregnancy on top of a research reactor.  I
worked with tritium and cerium before and during my second pregnancy.
It is important to mentioned that women in this industry carry out their
rad-related work, with the resulting low-level exposures, before, during
and after their pregnancies.  And except for being perfect, our children
and grandchildren are just fine - healthy and normal. 


Emelie Lamothe
lamothee@aecl.ca

> ----------
> From: 	David Hearnsberger[SMTP:hberger@trinity.tamu.edu]
> Sent: 	Thursday, March 12, 1998 12:23 PM
> To: 	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: 	Long term effects from ionizing radiation
> 
> A female rad worker asked if there have been any studies related to
> the
> effects of chronic exposure to low-levels of ionizing radiation. Her
> question is more directed towards what the effects could be if she
> planned
> to become pregnant in say, 5 years from now. I hope this question
> isn't
> too vague. If any of you can direct me to some reference material so
> that
> I can obtain it for her, please let me know. Thanks in advance.
> 
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