[CPEO-MEF] Birth Defects and Nuclear Power

[Susan Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

I have seen Stella assert a couple of times now that nuclear power
causes Down's Syndrome.  There is no evidence that this is true.  In
fact, even acute exposures, such as the nuclear bomb survivors, show
little if any cause/effect relationship with birth defects.  From the
Radiation Effects Research Foundation at
http://www.rerf.or.jp/eigo/radefx/genetics/birthdef.htm "There is no
statistically demonstrable increase in major birth defects considered in
total or in any specific type among the children of atomic-bomb
survivors."

The Radiation Information Network, on its Radiation and Risk page at
http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/risk.htm gives the following
information.  The average dose to the US public from all sources is 360
mrem/year.  The allowable Occupational Exposure Limits for Fetus is 500
mrem/year (based on the mother's exposure while pregnant and well within
limits where harm is known to occur).  The Average Dose to US Public
>>From Nuclear Power is less than < 0.1 mrem/year [current data].  

Frankly, the US public gets a significantly higher radiation dose from
uranium and thorium emitted from coal-burning power plants than
emissions from nuclear power plants.  A study at Oak Ridge National Lab
found "For comparison, according to NCRP [National Council on Radiation
Protection] Reports No. 92 and No. 95, population exposure from
operation of 1000-MWe nuclear and coal-fired power plants amounts to 490
person-rem/year for coal plants and 4.8 person-rem/year for nuclear
plants [1988 data].  Thus, the population effective dose equivalent from
coal plants is 100 times that from nuclear plants."  See
http://www.ornl.gov/ORNLReview/rev26-34/text/colmain.html for the entire
article.

If there is a cluster of Down's Syndrome cases, look to what is KNOWN to
cause it, instead of making unsupportable claims to bolster an
anti-nuclear agenda.

My own opinion only,

Susan Gawarecki
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