TennesseeCitizenScienceWatch

Report Presents Designs for Study of Cancer Risks Near US Nuclear Facilities - ScienceNewsline

A proposed study could help determine if there is a link between living near nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities and having a higher risk of cancer, but challenges and limitations exist, says a new report from the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering. The report recommends that a pilot study be completed first to evaluate the feasibility of a full-scale study, although the ultimate decision about whether to perform either would be the responsibility of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC), which sponsored the Research Council report.

Read the whole story at www.sciencenewsline.com

The pilot study focus would look at six nuclear power plants and one fuel cycle facility that provide a broad representation of plant designs and operating histories: Dresden, Ill.; Millstone, Conn.; Oyster Creek, N.J.; Haddam Neck, Conn.; Big Rock Point, Mich.; San Onofre, Calif.; and Nuclear Fuel Services, Tenn.

You can download the NAS study proposal free at the National Academies Press page for this report.

Radioactive iodine in Phila. water tied to thyroid patients

Government officials have now confirmed what they strongly suspected a year ago: The radioactive iodine-131 in some of the region's waterways, also found in minute amounts in Philadelphia's drinking water, is coming from thyroid patients.

After patients swallow the chemical in capsule or liquid form, some of it passes into their urine, which then enters the wastewater-treatment system and winds up in rivers that provide drinking water, the officials said.

Read the rest of the story at www.philly.com

Effects of environmental toxicants reach down through generations

ScienceDaily (Mar. 2, 2012) — A Washington State University researcher has demonstrated that a variety of environmental toxicants can have negative effects on not just an exposed animal but the next three generations of its offspring.

via www.sciencedaily.com

Here is the abstract from the study which you can download free at PLoS ONE:

Environmental factors during fetal development can induce a permanent epigenetic change in the germ line (sperm) that then transmits epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset disease in the absence of any subsequent exposure. The epigenetic transgenerational actions of various environmental compounds and relevant mixtures were investigated with the use of a pesticide mixture (permethrin and insect repellant DEET), a plastic mixture (bisphenol A and phthalates), dioxin (TCDD) and a hydrocarbon mixture (jet fuel, JP8). After transient exposure of F0 gestating female rats during the period of embryonic gonadal sex determination, the subsequent F1–F3 generations were obtained in the absence of any environmental exposure. The effects on the F1, F2 and F3 generations pubertal onset and gonadal function were assessed. The plastics, dioxin and jet fuel were found to promote early-onset female puberty transgenerationally (F3 generation). Spermatogenic cell apoptosis was affected transgenerationally. Ovarian primordial follicle pool size was significantly decreased with all treatments transgenerationally. Differential DNA methylation of the F3 generation sperm promoter epigenome was examined. Differential DNA methylation regions (DMR) were identified in the sperm of all exposure lineage males and found to be consistent within a specific exposure lineage, but different between the exposures. Several genomic features of the DMR, such as low density CpG content, were identified. Exposure-specific epigenetic biomarkers were identified that may allow for the assessment of ancestral environmental exposures associated with adult onset disease.

Skytruth Alert: Herbicide Chemical near Jackson, TN

Report Details
NRC Report ID: 1004744
Incident Time: 2012-03-05 08:06:00
Nearest City: Jackson, TN
Location: CORNER OF UNIVERSITY PRKWY AND NORTH HIGHLAND
Incident Type: MOBILE
Material: HERBICIDE CHEMICAL
Medium Affected: LAND
Suspected Responsible Party: TRU GREEN
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 35.696004, -88.829754 (Approximated from intersection)
Reported Spill Volume: 150 gallons
Report Description
CALLER STATED A BUSTED PIPE ON A TRUCK RESULTING IN A SPILL OF A HERBICIDE CHEMICAL.

via alerts.skytruth.org

New Environmental Justice Strategies Designed to Protect Health of All Americans

“Working together we have been able to make environmental justice a focus not just for EPA, but for agencies across the administration. Each of our federal partners plays a unique role in serving the American people, and each has a unique opportunity to ensure that our communities get the health and environmental protections they deserve,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “If we aspire to build an economy and a society that works for every American, we can’t allow the heaviest burdens of pollution and health threats to fall on our poorest citizens. Bringing together our federal partners to tackle these challenges is a major step toward health, environmental and economic benefits in communities across the nation.”

“We know that all too often, low-income and minority families live in the shadows of some of the worst pollution, leading to higher rates of diseases and threatening the economic potential of their communities,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “With these environmental justice strategies, Federal agencies are following through on the Obama Administration’s commitment to reduce public health threats.”

via yosemite.epa.gov

See the Memorandum of Understanding and speific agency plans at EPA website.

Skytruth Alert: Unknown Oil in Natural Spring near Monroe, TN

Report Details
NRC Report ID: 1004013
Incident Time: 2012-02-25 08:00:00
Nearest City: Monroe, TN
Location: 434 MONROE BRANCH LANE
Incident Type: FIXED
Material: UNKNOWN OIL
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: HORNET HOLDING CO.
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 36.457352, -85.260694 (Approximated from street_address)
Report Description
CALLER IS REPORTING THAT A WELL WAS DRILLED IN LINED WITH HIS NATURAL SPRING. CALLER STATED THAT WHEN THEY FINISHED DRILLING THE GROUND AROUND THE WELL COLLAPSED AND NOW THERE IS OIL IN HIS SPRING. BAILS OF STRAW HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE HOLE AROUND THE PIPE OF THE WELL; THE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WILL PUT CONCRETE AROUND IT ON MONDAY MORNING.

via alerts.skytruth.org

SkyTruth Alert: Firefighting foam discharge into Third Creek in Knoxville, TN

Report Details
NRC Report ID: 1002425
Incident Time: 2012-02-08 02:52:00
Nearest City: Knoxville, TN
Location: 5009 MIDDLEBROOKE PIKE
Incident Type: FIXED
Material: DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHE
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: KINDER MORGAN SE TERMINALS (KMST)
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 35.962715, -83.998941 (Approximated from street_address)
Reported Spill Volume: 350 gallons
Report Description
THE CALLER REPORTED THAT A MALFUNCTION ON A GAS LOADING RACK CAUSED 350 GALLONS OF FIRE FIGHTING FOAM (DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHE) TO RELEASE. THE MATERIAL ENTERED A DRAIN WHICH LEADS TO A CREEK.

via www.nrc.uscg.mil

Skytruth Alert: Oil: Crude in Brush Creek near Fairview, TN

Report details are below. I also found an article in the Tennessean from yesterday: Oil bubbling up in Fairview creek.

Report Details
NRC Report ID: 1002363
Incident Time: 2012-02-07 11:20:00
Nearest City: Fairview, TN
Location: 7298 BRUSH CREEK ROAD
Incident Type: FIXED
Material: OIL: CRUDE
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: HENRY DRILLING COMPANY
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 36.027016, -87.084347 (Approximated from street_address)
Report Description
CALLER STATED A DRILLING COMPANY WAS DRILLING FOR A WELL WHEN NATURAL OIL CAME OUT OF THE GROUND AND DISCHARGED INTO BRUSH CREEK.

via alerts.skytruth.org

RADIUM-226 SOURCES DISCOVERED AT WASTE TRANSFER STATION

This is yet another reason why citizens should be concerned about landfills, landfill regulation, landfill inspections, and illegal dumping by citizens and businesses:

Agreement State	Event Number: 47613
Rep Org: PA BUREAU OF RADIATION PROTECTION Licensee: UNKNOWN Region: 1 City: NORRISTOWN State: PA County: License #: UNKNOWN Agreement: Y Docket: NRC Notified By: DAVID ALLARD HQ OPS Officer: BILL HUFFMAN	Notification Date: 01/20/2012 Notification Time: 20:00 [ET] Event Date: 01/19/2012 Event Time: [EST] Last Update Date: 01/20/2012
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY 10 CFR Section: AGREEMENT STATE	Person (Organization): RONALD BELLAMY (R1DO) BRUCE WATSON (FSME)

 

This material event contains a "Less than Cat 3" level of radioactive material.

Event Text

AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - RADIUM-226 SOURCES DISCOVERED AT WASTE TRANSFER STATION

The following event was received via facsimile from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection [DEP], Bureau of Radiation Protection:

"Event Description: On Thursday, January 19, 2012, DEP's southeast regional office received a call from the Waste Management, Inc. Norristown solid waste transfer station stating that a roll-off container of waste had set off their radiation alarm. The facility's consulting health physicist investigated, along with representatives of the Department's Bureau of Radiation Protection. The radioactive material recovered from the roll-off was four (4) small cylinders identified as approximately one (1) curie [total] of radium-226 contained in what appeared to be a lead-lined box. The lead-lined box (with shiny exterior) was inside an old metal locking box that contained various other source holders, instruments and applicators, some containing the name 'Standard Chemical.' It is believed these Ra-226 sources are vintage circa 1920 medical radiation therapy capsules. Preliminary wipes revealed no significant removable contamination, thus, no leaking sources. The consultant HP was given a DOT Special Permit for transport, and [took] possession of the Ra-226 for safe and secure storage. Contact dose rates outside the closed shiny metal lead-lined box were as high as 2.0 R/hr. In an open configuration, dose rates were about 100 R/h in near contact with the sources.

"The unlocked roll-off container was located for several weeks in a parking lot of an adult-only living community in West Chester, PA while a contractor performed work on townhomes in the development. Department personnel have been in touch with the contractor and will be interviewing workers, as well as nearby homeowners to determine if any people were significantly exposed to these sources. Local outreach is also planned to ensure similar sources are not in the public sector.

"CAUSE OF THE EVENT: Suspected intentional abandonment of old medical radium sources in an open construction waste dumpster.

"ACTIONS: The Department is in contact with DOE and a LLRW vendor for transfer or disposal of Ra-226 sources. Further investigations will be performed, as well as any needed dose reconstruction."

Pennsylvania Report: PA120004

Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf

This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source.

 ###

Herer's an article link from a Norristown, PA paper:

Radioactive Material Found in Trash in Norristown

On Thursday, Jan. 19, a load of construction debris set off radiation alarms at the Waste Management Inc. (WMI) transfer station in Norristown. WMI detained the truck and deployed a health physicist to recover the radioactive material, later identified as approximately one curie of radium-226....

Regulators say flood barriers may not protect TVA's nuclear plants | The Tennessean

Sand baskets that the Tennessee Valley Authority installed at dams to protect its nuclear plants from a worst-case flood could fail, according to a federal nuclear oversight group.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the baskets are not capable of standing up to the impact of debris barreling down the Tennessee River in a massive flood.

“There is potential for this debris to damage the baskets or push the individual baskets apart, causing a breach,” an NRC letter dated Wednesday to TVA says. “There would be no time to repair the baskets because the flood would already be in progress.”

via www.tennessean.com