Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NAS update of 1990 NHI-NIC "Cancer in Populations Living Near Nuclear Facilities".


NRC announced today that they are requesting the NAS to do a pilot study of six plants as Phase 2 of the updating of the original 1990 NHI-NIC "Cancer in Populations Living Near Nuclear Facilities".  Two years, $2million dollars.
Congressman Ed Markey has already weighed in:  "I have long been concerned about whether there are any adverse health impacts associated with living near nuclear reactors," said Rep. Markey. "It is my hope that this pilot study will result in a thorough, accurate accounting of the health risks associated with living near nuclear facilities.
So Phase 1 was approved and published by NAS with input by groups such as Beyond Nuclear and other anti-nuke groups that have a general distrust of nuclear power and the NRC.  There seemed to be a focus on effluent disharges in Phase 1 and how those are not regulated.
The Phase 1 report is 425 pages. Several concerns include:
  • Allowable radioactive effluent release limits are too high.
  • There are multiple historic instances of leaks of radioactive materials at nuclear facilities, not always reported at the time of the release.
  • Releases (routine or accidental) may be higher than those reported; therefore, associated risks may be higher than those conveyed.  
  • The high number of cancer cases in the communities around the nuclear facilities should be evidence of the risk.
  • Widen the study scope; include non-USNRC-regulated facilities, and examine noncancer effects such as birth defects, cardiovascular disease, and infertility.
  • Include multiple cancers and age groups in the analysis, with a special focus on susceptible populations such as young children and those exposed in utero.
  • Consider current and past routine releases, accidental releases, and releases from spent fuel stored in the facilities.
  • Find alternate ways to investigate risks in states where cancer registration is not adequate. 

 Phase 2 will be an interesting two years of data collection.  Public annoucements of meetings at the six sites selected for Phase 2 will be sent out by NAS apparently where issues such as indemnifying stakeholders will be addressed.   This Phase 2 project should be on all our radars especially those that live near the six selected sites.
The NRC press release: 
The Academy will work with interested parties near the sites prior to gathering information and beginning the necessary analyses.
Since the most vocal interested parties are those that already believe nuclear power by its very nature causes cancer in the general public, these vocal groups may have a significant influence on how the data gathering proceeds.
Press release:
 
 
SECY paper:
 
 
Previous 1990 study fact sheet:
 

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