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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
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ANALYSIS OF CANCER RISKS IN POPULATIONS NEAR NUCLEAR FACILITIES

Phase 1

Committee on the Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities—Phase 1

Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board
Division of Earth and Life Studies

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
          OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

The National Academies Press
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS      500 Fifth Street, NW      Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Contract/Grant No. NRC-04-10-152 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-25571-4

International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-25571-6

ISBN 0-309-25574-0

Cover images: Regional maps of northeastern (front cover) and northwestern (back cover) states and populations living in census tracts within 30 miles of nuclear power plants. See Figures 4.4a-d for more information. Maps were created by committee member Lance Waller (Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia).

Additional copies of this report are available for sale from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu/.

Copyright 2012 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
×

COMMITTEE ON THE ANALYSIS OF CANCER RISKS IN POPULATIONS NEAR NUCLEAR FACILITIES—PHASE 1

JOHN E. BURRIS, Chair, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

JOHN C. BAILAR, III, University of Chicago (retired), Washington, DC

HAROLD L. BECK, Environmental Measurements Laboratory (retired), New York, New York

ANDRE BOUVILLE, National Cancer Institute (retired), Bethesda, Maryland

PHAEDRA S. CORSO, University of Georgia, Athens

PATRICIA J. CULLIGAN, Columbia University, New York, New York

PAUL M. DELUCA, JR., University of Wisconsin, Madison

RAYMOND A. GUILMETTE, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico

GEORGE M. HORNBERGER, Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment, Nashville, Tennessee

MARGARET KARAGAS, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire

ROGER KASPERSON, Clark University (retired), Worcester, Massachusetts

JAMES E. KLAUNIG, Indiana University, Bloomington

TIMOTHY MOUSSEAU, University of South Carolina, Columbia

SHARON B. MURPHY, University of Texas Health Science Center (retired), Washington, DC

ROY E. SHORE, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan

DANIEL O. STRAM, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

MARGOT TIRMARCHE, Institute of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

LANCE WALLER, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

GAYLE E. WOLOSCHAK, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

JEFFREY J. WONG, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento

Staff

KEVIN D. CROWLEY, Study Director

OURANIA KOSTI, Program Officer

TIMOTHY A. BOULEY, Research Associate

TONI GREENLEAF, Administrative and Financial Associate

SHAUNTEÉ WHETSTONE, Senior Program Assistant

ERIN WINGO, Communications Liaison

JAMES YATES, JR., Office Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
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NUCLEAR AND RADIATION STUDIES BOARD

JAY DAVIS (Chair), Hertz Foundation, Livermore, California

BARBARA J. MCNEIL (Vice Chair), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

JOONHONG AHN, University of California, Berkeley

JOHN S. APPLEGATE, Indiana University, Bloomington

MICHAEL L. CORRADINI, University of Wisconsin, Madison

PATRICIA J. CULLIGAN, Columbia University, New York

ROBERT C. DYNES, University of California, San Diego

JOE GRAY, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, California

DAVID G. HOEL, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston

HEDVIG HRICAK, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York

THOMAS H. ISAACS, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California

ANNIE B. KERSTING, Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California

MARTHA S. LINET, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

FRED A. METTLER, JR., New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque

BORIS F. MYASOEDOV, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

RICHARD J. VETTER, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

RAYMOND G. WYMER, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee (retired)

Staff

KEVIN D. CROWLEY, Senior Board Director

JENNIFER A. HEIMBERG, Senior Program Officer

OURANIA KOSTI, Program Officer

TONI GREENLEAF, Administrative and Financial Associate

LAURA D. LLANOS, Administrative and Financial Associate

SHAUNTEÉ WHETSTONE, Senior Program Assistant

ERIN WINGO, Senior Program Assistant

JAMES YATES, JR., Office Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
×

Acknowledgments

The committee wishes to acknowledge and thank a number of individuals and organizations for their valuable contributions to this study:

  • The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) for its sponsorship of this study, and especially USNRC staff members Brian Sheron, Terry Brock, Vered Shaffer, Marilyn Diaz, John Tomon, Scott Burnell, Dave McIntyre, Richard Conatser, John Cassidy, and Don Stearns. Dr. Brock, the USNRC’s designated liaison to the committee, served as a guide to the USNRC’s regulatory programs and the agency’s vast collection of technical documents.
  • The presenters at the committee’s information-gathering meetings, who are listed in Appendix C.
  • Members of the public and nongovernmental organizations who shared their perspectives and concerns about cancer risks associated with living near nuclear facilities. Some submitted extensive written information, notably: Beyond Nuclear, the Erwin Citizens Awareness Network, Inc., the C-10 Foundation, and Anthony and Ipatia Apostolides. Their comments helped to shape the epidemiologic study designs that are recommended in this report.
  • The Electric Power Research Institute (especially Phung Tran), Raid Amin, University of West Florida, and Steve Wing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for providing written advice on epidemiologic study designs.
  • Willie Harris and Robert Osgood, Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Kathy Yhip and Mike Russell, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station,
Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
×
  • and Marie Moore and Mark Elliott, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc (NFS), for supporting facility visits by subgroups of committee members. Ms. Moore also provided information about NFS’ effluent release records.
  • Rosanne Aaberg (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory [PNNL]) and David Baker (PNNL, retired) for assistance in obtaining PNNL’s archived data on nuclear plant effluent releases.
  • Ralph Andersen and Andrew Mauer, Nuclear Energy Institute, for providing information about operating practices and effluent release records at nuclear power plants.
  • Robert Anderson, National Center of Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Christie Eheman, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Kevin Ward, Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics, and Scott Boggess, U.S. Census Bureau, for guidance on sources of health and population data.
  • Directors and staff of state departments of public health, cancer registries, and vital statistics offices for providing information about the availability and release of health data (see Appendixes K-M).

The committee extends special thanks to the staff of the National Research Council for supporting this study. Study director Kevin Crowley and program officer Ourania Kosti organized the committee meetings and assisted the committee with report writing and review. They also provided valuable insights and perspectives on many aspects of the study. Shaunteé Whetstone managed the logistics of the meetings, report review, and publication. Erin Wingo led the public communication efforts with help from Catherine Allen-West. Jennifer Walsh led the media communication efforts. Timothy Bouley assisted with information gathering and analysis. Roger Herdman, Institute of Medicine, provided guidance on identifying surveillance systems that collect information on population characteristics over time.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the Report Review Committee of the National Research Council. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Research Council in making its published report as sound as possible and will ensure that this report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report:

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
×
  • and Marie Moore and Mark Elliott, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc (NFS), for supporting facility visits by subgroups of committee members. Ms. Moore also provided information about NFS’ effluent release records.
  • Rosanne Aaberg (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory [PNNL]) and David Baker (PNNL, retired) for assistance in obtaining PNNL’s archived data on nuclear plant effluent releases.
  • Ralph Andersen and Andrew Mauer, Nuclear Energy Institute, for providing information about operating practices and effluent release records at nuclear power plants.
  • Robert Anderson, National Center of Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Christie Eheman, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Kevin Ward, Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics, and Scott Boggess, U.S. Census Bureau, for guidance on sources of health and population data.
  • Directors and staff of state departments of public health, cancer registries, and vital statistics offices for providing information about the availability and release of health data (see Appendixes K-M).

The committee extends special thanks to the staff of the National Research Council for supporting this study. Study director Kevin Crowley and program officer Ourania Kosti organized the committee meetings and assisted the committee with report writing and review. They also provided valuable insights and perspectives on many aspects of the study. Shaunteé Whetstone managed the logistics of the meetings, report review, and publication. Erin Wingo led the public communication efforts with help from Catherine Allen-West. Jennifer Walsh led the media communication efforts. Timothy Bouley assisted with information gathering and analysis. Roger Herdman, Institute of Medicine, provided guidance on identifying surveillance systems that collect information on population characteristics over time.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the Report Review Committee of the National Research Council. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Research Council in making its published report as sound as possible and will ensure that this report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report:

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2012. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13388.
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In the late 1980s, the National Cancer Institute initiated an investigation of cancer risks in populations near 52 commercial nuclear power plants and 10 Department of Energy nuclear facilities (including research and nuclear weapons production facilities and one reprocessing plant) in the United States. The results of the NCI investigation were used a primary resource for communicating with the public about the cancer risks near the nuclear facilities. However, this study is now over 20 years old. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission requested that the National Academy of Sciences provide an updated assessment of cancer risks in populations near USNRC-licensed nuclear facilities that utilize or process uranium for the production of electricity.

Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1 focuses on identifying scientifically sound approaches for carrying out an assessment of cancer risks associated with living near a nuclear facility, judgments about the strengths and weaknesses of various statistical power, ability to assess potential confounding factors, possible biases, and required effort. The results from this Phase 1 study will be used to inform the design of cancer risk assessment, which will be carried out in Phase 2. This report is beneficial for the general public, communities near nuclear facilities, stakeholders, healthcare providers, policy makers, state and local officials, community leaders, and the media.

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