Antinuclear

USA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission stops its epidemiological study in cancer near #nuclear facilities

USA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission doesn’t want epidemiological studies to continue on cancer in populations near nuclear facilities.  So they stopped this one.

I wonder what the world’s lung cancer status would be like, if government had stopped Sir Richard Doll’s iconic epidemiological study into lung  cancer in populations of smokers.

NRC: Studying Cancer Risks In Populations Near Nuclear Plants ‘Impractical’
The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township was included in two pilot studies. Lacey PatchBy PATRICIA A. MILLER (Patch Staff)
 September 8, 2015 The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has abandoned a National Academy of Sciences pilot study of cancer risks in people who live near nuclear plants in the United States, including the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township,

“The NRC determined that continuing the work was impractical, given the significant amount of time and resources needed and the agency’s current budget constraints,” according to an NRC release……

according to the NRC. ”We’re balancing the desire to provide updated answers on cancer risk with our responsibility to use Congressionally-provided funds as wisely as possible.”

But Janet Tauro – chair of Clean Ocean Action and a founding member of Grandmothers, Mothers and More for Energy Safety – is outraged at the NRC’s decision.

“We really think they (NRC) are petrified by the results,” Tauro said today. ”There is no safe dose of continuous radiation. This is what we’ve been talking about. It’s cumulative. It’s a cocktail of radioactive release contributions and it gets into the environment.”……..

”The National Academy of Sciences estimated it might take it 8 to 10 years to complete the pilot study and subsequent nationwide studies before the NRC had final cancer risks to share with the public. That would possibly prolong the study to 2025 – 15 years after the start of the project with the National Academy.”

But Tauro said the study should be completed, no matter how long it takes and how much it costs.

“Big deal,” she said. ”They should have spent more and sent the bill to Exelon (Oyster Creek’s owner) and other nuclear facilities. This is outrageous.”

The idea behind the study was to update available information on cancer risks near U.S. nuclear power facilities. The last such study was done by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and was issued in 1990…….. http://patch.com/new-jersey/lacey/nrc-studying-cancer-risks-populations-near-nuclear-plants-impractical-0

September 8, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized