RE: Re[2]: News article

["Lavera, Ron" <Ron.Lavera@nypa.gov>]

This article is very similar to the type of material discussed at the
recent STAR conference in NY City.  In fact, Dr. Reid from the Oak Ridge
area made a presentation about this on Saturday.  

One of the key features of this issue is that it may not necessarily
just be a radiological concern.  It was clearly stated that there were a
number of contaminants in the area ( Mercury, PCB lead fumes etc. ) so
it was difficult to determine the "cause" of the "symptoms".  

I mention this because even though something may not be directly
attributable to radiation, it may be the result of the operation of a
"nuclear" site.  This may get one into the guilt by association complex.
If it turns out that there is a causal link between the site and the
symptoms and the radiation protection specialist have been yelling "no
way !" then we may all be discredited.

... mine and mine alone ...

Ron LaVera
lavera.r@nypa.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth Weiner [mailto:rfweine@sandia.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 1998 11:21 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re[2]: News article



     This message is in response to my attempts to get the Tennessean 
     article.  Apparently the URL Shelley put up does work.
     
Also, RADSAFERs please note:  the Tennessean article appeared in this
morning's 
(10/1) Albuquerque Journal, with a tiny addition to make it New
Mexico-relevant.
 Maybe it's because we have Los Alamos, but maybe it's because the
article is 
being widely disseminated.  I intend to write a refuting Letter to the
Editor 
and I would encourage others to do the same.  Not only is the article
misleading
with respect to "hundreds...scores..." of people "near" the sites (Oak
Ridge has
about 300,000 "nearby") but the article is vague about exactly what
array 
of,physical problems are present, what the exposure time was, how the
problem 
was related to the exposure, etc.  The article reads like a fairly
typical 
anti-nuke scare story.

Clearly only my own opinion.

Ruth Weiner
rfweine@sandia.gov 

______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: RE: News article
Author:  Shelly Siddoway at MailHubMS
Date:    9/29/98 4:55 PM


Hi Ruth--
     
Funny . . . I just tried it on your reply and it went right through.  I 
found the article on our 'Newscenter' (today's edition) in the 'Heads
Up' 
section, first story.  I can't believe (well, yeah I can) what gets 
printed some times.
     
I really wanted to share this with RadSafe.  Would you try to get it out

there?  Maybe it's RCT error. :>)
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html