Jackson County Commission, Regular Session, Environmental Concerns Presentation, Cancer Rates, Biosolids Sewage Sludge Issue, ADEM Testing of Water on Sand Mountain, October 23, 2017

Historical poor stewardship by corporations and individual polluters, along with negligent state and federal agencies are killing people in Jackson County Alabama. An extreme statement when extreme measures need to be taken. The placing of money before the health and welfare of citizens is unacceptable. 

Center for Disease Control's National Cancer Institute's, NCI, Map of Alabama in regards to cancers and cancer rates. Jackson County, upper right hand corner of map in red, demonstrates high cancer death rates. Various cancers are present in the community at levels which are above the state and national averages. A review of the statistical data indicates females are at greater risk of cancer deaths. Female death rates for Jackson county are ranked at #7 while males are ranked #11 in the state of Alabama. My presentation to the Jackson County Commission may be seen at 7 minutes 18 seconds in the below video of the commission meeting.

Testing by ADEM, April and May 2017 of water in the area of North Sand Mountain demonstrated increased levels of e. coli, low oxygen content of water, dangerous levels of "oxygen demand" indicating organic pollutants present, Nitrogen Ammonia highly elevated, total phosphorus elevated. The problem with ADEM appears to be timely and continuous followup testing of water in the areas of pollution. 

NCI CANCERS STATS for the State of Alabama, Jackson County

(cancers of concern, sex and age relations, elevated rates, red grouping)

#1 Thyroid cancer incidence for all sexes, age under 50, #3 incidence rate for all ages.

#2 Pancreatic cancer incidents for males all ages, #6 death rate for men.

#2 ovarian cancer deaths (females) all ages.

#6 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma incidence all ages female.

#2 Liver cancer deaths, male all ages.

#4 Leukemia deaths, males all ages.

#2 Kidney, pelvic, renal cancer incidence, female, all ages.

#3 Colon and Rectal cancer deaths female all ages; #9 death rate for both sexes.

#1 Brain cancer deaths males, all ages; #2 deaths for both sexes.

#4 Bladder cancer deaths, both sexes all ages.

HISTORICAL POLLUTION and POOR STEWARDSHIP

Report from the Huntsville Times, January 8, 2008, on historical dumping in mining sites on North Sand Mountain, TVA involvement; E. coli and mercury contamination in area of concern.There is a question whether the remediation effort was accomplished. In 1995 wells were tested in the Flat Rock Fabious area by the health department, over 50% of wells tested demonstrated e. coli content in the well water at unsafe levels. Area contamination was a great concern at this time, 1995, due to a massive fish, turtle and amphibian kill in the Coon Gulf area, reports from local residents state, "Nothing was living, the stench was horrible, you could walk across the water because of all the floating dead animals." ( Article reproduced under fair use rights for non-profit news reporting regarding community health. Click on image for an expanded view.) 

MEETING AGENDA

VIDEO

WAFF-TV Investigative Report on Browns Ferry Relating to the Radioactive Emissions and Health Hazards Surrounding the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama

Update: Dec 7. 2013 - The videos have been removed from the WAFF site. The WAFF link below remains active. TVA's 2012 radiation report is active at this link -  TVA's latest radiological report (pdf) It is interesting to note that current radiation levels are reported on charts to be lower than pre-operational levels. TVA attributes this to a lack of nuclear weapons testing. However, there have been two(2) nuclear reactor accidents which have contributed massive amounts of radiation contamination worldwide. This fact and subsequent radiation measurements as a result of the nuclear accidents are omitted. For this reason the report from the TVA is suspect. TVA radiological measurements are from 2012; unfortunately the TVA and the NRC fails to report their findings to the public in a timely fashion.

WAFF Investigates: Health concerns at Browns Ferry
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - By Margo Gray 
A local citizens' advocacy group is calling out the nuclear industry and taking on Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant.
http://www.waff.com/story/24036660/waff-investigates-health-concerns-at-browns-ferry
 The members of BREDL/BEST/MATRR appreciate WAFF and Ms. Gray for the opportunity to inform the public about nuclear power health risks and specifically about our concerns with the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant  - Garry Morgan, Project Director-BEST/MATRR Community Radiation Monitoring Project. 

WAFF Investigates: Health concerns at Browns Ferry
WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL  (deactivated by source - WAFF)

Featured in the video is a nuclear industry mouthpiece - "The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) is an organization that exists to debunk what they call junk science, and Doctor Josh Bloom says that's exactly what this report is. "They are using selective data and they are picking out the numbers that supports their case and they are ignoring the others and trying to bury them," said Bloom." One of several ad hominem attacks.  Update- May 12, 2015: American Council on Science & Health has been identified as an anti-environmental group submitting bogus reports to support various corporate interests including the nuclear industry. http://www.polluterwatch.com/anti-environmental-archives

The data in the Browns Ferry Report is from the National Cancer Institute and the Center for Disease Control, and compiled by an Epidemiologist. https://bredl.org/pdf4/AL_BFN_Report_2013-final-digit.pdf

ACSH is a member of CASE, a Nuclear Energy Institute, NEI, entity, fully funded by the NEI.
http://casenergy.org/2009/09/the-american-council-on-science-and-health-acsh/
ACSH falsely claims that nuclear energy is sustainable, clean energy in this handout - http://www.acsh.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20080911_nuclear_energyfinal.pdf 

"The ACSH is known as an "industry-friendly" group according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...2013, Mother Jones magazine received leaked internal financial documents from ACSH, which revealed that 58% of the organization's donations in the period from July 1, 2012, to December 20, 2012 came from corporations and large private foundations, many of which themselves had close ties to industries with financial stakes in the specific issues on which ACSH issues industry-favorable opinions."^[32]   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Council_on_Science_and_Health

Source Watch's file on ACSH - Alar, Death Panels and  Michael Crichton   http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Council_on_Science_and_Health

BEST/MATRR Video of Interview with cancer maps as posted below.

TVA Spokesman Jim Hopson on Browns Ferry WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL  (deactivated by source WAFF)
Note - quote in the Jim Hopson video near the end: "..according to the World Health Organization there have been no deaths from nuclear radiation." Department of Labor's EEOICP statistics dispute that claim - http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/weeklystats.htm
Near 100,000 workers costing tax payers near $10 billion dollars due to nuclear energy industry workers sickness and death. This does not include all nuclear facilities. These statistics have only been compiled since 2001 upon passage of the law authorizing compensation for nuclear energy workers. Prior to 2001 data/statistics on nuclear energy worker related sickness and deaths were classified.

Concerning Mr. Hopson's ad hominem fallacy: He says, we have made "unsubstantiated claims" against workers. Our report does not in any way form or fashion make any unsubstantiated claims against the rank and file workers at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Our group has expressed our thanks to the TVA Board and the NRC for the hard work of TVA's rank and file workers. The reliability of TVA's Management Culture relating to the management of TVA's nuclear program is an entirely different matter. Hopson also wrongfully stated in the WAFF interview, "They (referring to our report) are saying the dedicated Browns Ferry workers are baby killers..." This ridiculousness is typical TVA deceit, these type of attacks have been seen on other occasions and are reflections on the TVA's deceitful corporate culture.

The TVA has demonstrated management negligence in their nuclear power operations which jeopardizes the health and welfare of the valley's citizens. This is documented in BEST/MATRR's report, reference Appendix 4 - "Request to the NRC to Suspend the Operating License of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Reactors" by the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, BREDL. BEST/MATRR is part of the BREDL group. The report may be viewed on our web site at http://www.matrr.org

As in this case, TVA's public relations personnel and TVA's Management do not always describe situations accurately and are deceitful in their presentations concerning the risks (including health risks) and cost of nuclear power. Mr. Hopson is the one making the unsubstantiated claim. The report speaks for itself.

TVA nor the State of Alabama will agree with the report. If they did they would have to increase the warning zones concerning nuclear power to 100 miles and install radiation sensors at downwind locations up to 100 miles. No governmental or non-profit organizations interviewed which attacked our report explained the high cancer incidence and mortality rates. All had financial connections to the nuclear industry while denying facts about nuclear power hazards and risks.
BREDL/BEST/MATRR states radiation may be a contributing factor to high cancer rates and suggested the government perform further testing. They can not prove that an inaccurate statement but yet they wage an aggressive series of false attacks.

Director, Alabama Office of Radiation Control WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL  (deactivated by source WAFF)

The State of Alabama does not test downwind environs more than 10 miles away from Browns Ferry. The majority of our test data reflected background radiation readings. However, during rain events downwind from the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant the radiation counts per minute were greatly increased as reflected in our report.

If the state of Alabama has consistent real time monitoring surrounding Browns Ferry, why are they not publishing the data on a daily basis or displaying the counter display via a web site?

It is important to point out that the State of Alabama Governor sits on a board which supports nuclear power. The Retirement System of Alabama also has input to this board. What is this board? The Southern States Nuclear Compact, also known as the Southern States Energy Board, Codified into Alabama Law under Conservation and Natural Resources - http://www.sseb.org/files/legislation-alabama.pdf   also  http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/9#sthash.4P4Sv5E2.dpuf 

The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB), of which Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is the Chairperson, supports nuclear power as a means to further development in the South and Alabama. http://www.sseb.org/reference/policy-positions/    The SSEB also calls the EPA's efforts to improve our water and air quality a "Train Wreck."  “Train Wreck”-SSEB Resolution

The SSEB receives advice and support from many lobbyists and corporations including most of the U.S. nuclear energy industry and the nuclear energy industry lobbyist, the NEI. http://www.sseb.org/members/industry-partnership/

The bottom line -  The State of Alabama via the SSEB is in bed with the nuclear power industry. The health and welfare of the public takes a back seat to the financial incentives provided to the state and its politicians by the nuclear power industry and supporting organizations.

Neither the Alabama State Department of Health, the TVA or nuclear power's mouth piece - ACSH could explain why the cancer rate for north Alabama is high. But yet, these groups emphatically state nuclear power is not a cause, ignoring facts presented in federal CDC and NCI statistical reports. Our data and studies demonstrate the nuclear industry in the Tennessee River Valley appears to be a contributing factor.

                ALABAMA CANCER MAPS - National Cancer Institute

The second highest killer other than cigarette smoking for lung cancer is radon. Get you homes checked for radon contamination, it is dangerously high in this area. http://www.adph.org/cancercontrol/

Alabama Brain Cancer Incidence Rates

Ionizing radiation is the only established environmental cause of brain tumors (Preston-Martin 1996). Occupational exposure to radiation has been consistently linked to adult brain tumors (Alexander and DiMarco 2002), and has also been linked to childhood brain tumors in the offspring of people exposed to radiation at work. One study looking at geographic and time-related patterns of brain tumors in children found that rates of the disease significantly decreased in downwind communities when nuclear power plants ceased their operations (Mangano et al. 2002).  More information: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/brain_cancer

NRC DOSE LIMITS CHART

Ionizing Radiation is cumulative. All ionizing radiation has the potential to cause cellular mutations.

http://radioactivepoison.blogspot.com/ 

“There is no safe level of exposure and there is no dose of (ionizing) radiation so low that the risk of a malignancy is zero”--Dr. Karl Morgan, the father of Health Physics"

The nuclear power industry and government organizations such as the TVA and Department of Energy like to boast that there have been no deaths as a result of civilian nuclear power in the U.S. Facts found in statistical analysis of U.S. cancer incidence and death rates point toward another conclusion - nuclear power is killing people. http://www.acereport.org/downloads/Download_02_attachment_02.pdf

Poisoning of Our Waters

Fair use photo by Science Daily for non-profit news reporting - Credit: Photo by Pieter Johnson, courtesy of Oregon State University http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110425153633.htm

 

Frogs with multiple legs, containing both male and female sex organs are being found. Some scientists believe these malformations are due to endocrine disruptors present in our water supply. Others factors causing deformed species are the results of parasites. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/110802-frogs-deformed-parasites-animals-environment-mutants/ Fish are also being found with both male and female sex organs and unusual tumors.

Fair use rights for photo, non-profit news reporting - credits

http://www.thepettreehouse.com/2014/07/meet-donald-duckling-born-with-4-legs.html

This duckling has 4 legs. The presence of pollutants in our drinking water is causing high cancer rates locally and results in mutations.

Photo of Lake Guntersville at Goosepond, G.Morgan                               

The question, what do we want, clean, beautiful waterways with fresh, safe drinking water - or polluted waterways which are not healthy?

Fair use rights for non-profit news reporting - photo by Alabama Department of Conservation

 

Clogged lakes from exotic aquatic nuisance species which proliferate from excessive nitrate, phosphorus and sewage pollution?

            Fair use rights for non-profit news reporting - 123RF photo

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Do we want filthy, polluted waterways which are the source of our drinking water? Questions and serious concerns which each of us must evaluate.

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Tonight, April 21, 2009, on "Front Line," PBS, there will be a program on the pollution of our drinking water and fisheries across our nation. This show will concentrate on the effects of endocrine disruptors on animal and human physiology. In most cases it only takes a minuscule PPB or PPM, parts per billion or parts per million, to disrupt endocrine systems. Wiki has a good article on Endocrine Disruptors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor PBS trailer on the "Front Line" expose: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/

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The source of our drinking water in Scottsboro is the Tennessee River. The river is polluted from sources in Jackson County as well as sources up stream in Tennessee. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has published this list of polluted streams and advisories. If you will notice their are many polluted areas upstream from Jackson County. Chlordane, Mercury and PCB are just a few of the pollutants listed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. http://www.tnfish.org/ContaminantsInFishAdvisories_TWRA/FishFleshConsumptionAdvisories_TWRA.htm

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There is considerable scientific evidence concerning the link of plastics and their by-products to various cancers. Video links concerning plastics and breast cancer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUSsbFN70KA&feature=related About plastics, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvzTr1VOK90&feature=related

Cancer Health Risks in Jackson County on the Rise

-------------------------- Basal Cell Carcinoma of the cheek ----------
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-------- $$$$$ TVA's Bellefonte Dream, $18,000,000,000 $$$$$

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The following is a copy of a letter from Mr. Joseph Mangano, Executive Director, Radiation and Public Health Project to Judge Paul Bollwerk, NRC's Administrative Law Judge and Chief Hearing Officer for TVA's Bellefonte License Application.

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Note the Jackson County Alabama Cancer Rate increase ranking of 44th in 1983 to 10th in 2005.

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To: paul.bollwerk@nrc.gov, hearingdocket@nrc.govSent: 8/12/2008 11:41:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: Comments on Bellefonte

Re: Limited Appearance
Bellefonte Nuclear Plants Units 3 and 4
Docket No. 520-14-COL and 52-15-COL

By email paul.bollwerk@nrc.gov, hearingdocket@nrc.gov

716 Simpson Avenue
Ocean City NJ 08226

August 12, 2008

Dear Sir/Madam:

Please accept the following comments on the plan to build and operate two new nuclear reactors at the Bellefonte plant near Scottsboro AL.

I am a public health researcher, and thus my comments will thus be focused on the potential health risks of new Bellefonte reactors. The high levels of radioactivity found in the core and waste pools of a nuclear reactor after several years of operation are equivalent to hundreds of times that released after the Hiroshima bomb, and several times that of releases from the Chernobyl accident.

A meltdown from mechanical failure or terrorist attack would release large amounts of radioactivity to the local population, and have devastating consequences. The 1982 report Calculation of Reactor Accident Consequences, prepared by the Sandia National Laboratories, estimated that an accident at a single Bellefonte reactor would cause

- 3,600 deaths from acute radiation poisoning within 20 miles
- 7,700 non-fatal cases of acute radiation poisoning within 20 miles
- 4,500 cancer deaths within 50 miles

Because of the population increases since 1982, and because the geographic area considered is limited (radioactivity would spread well beyond 20 miles), these figures should be considered minimal if a meltdown were to occur in the future.

New reactors at Bellefonte would also routinely emit a portion of the radioactivity produced in the core into local air and water, where it would enter human bodies through breathing and the food chain. Once in the body, radioactivity kills and injures cells, and is particularly harmful to infants and children.

The added radioactivity would increase risk of cancer. Jackson County, where Bellefonte is located, already suffers from disproportionately high cancer rates. The table below shows that from 1979-1983, the county's cancer death rate jumped from 9.4% below the U.S. to 13.9% above the U.S. in 1999-2005. Its ranking among the 67 Alabama counties also rose, from 44th highest to 10th highest. The increase has a high degree of statistical significance (p<.0001). Cancer death rate, whites, Jackson County vs. U.S. Jackson County U.S. Rate/ Years of Death Deaths Rate/100,000 100,000 % +/- U.S. 1979-1983 373 187.21 (#44 in AL) 206.60 - 9.4 1999-2005 888 222.56 (#10 in AL) 195.47 +13.9 p<.0001 Notes: Data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://wonder.cdc.gov/. Rates adjusted to 2000 U.S. standard population. Uses ICD-9 codes 140.0-239.9 for cancer (1979-1983) and ICD-10 codes for cancer (1999-2005). Whites make up over 95% of Jackson County population.

The current (1999-2005) cancer death rate among Jackson County children and adolescents is more than double that of the U.S. Even though only eight deaths from cancer occurred in these seven years, and the difference falls somewhat short of statistical significance (p<.19 when p<.05 is significant), the findings should be taken seriously. Cancer death rate, age 0-24, whites, Jackson County vs. U.S., 1999-2005 Jackson County U.S. Rate/ Years of Death Deaths Rate/100,000 100,000 % +/- U.S. 1999-2005 8 7.25 3.51 +106.6 p<.19 Notes: Data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://wonder.cdc.gov/ Uses ICD-9 codes ICD-10 codes for cancer (1999-2005). Whites make up over 95% of Jackson County population.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Jackson County's 54,000 residents are already at risk for health problems due to demographic factors. Its poverty rate exceeds the U.S. (15.3% to 12.7% in 2004), and its educational levels fall below that of the nation (67.0% age over 25 graduated from high school, vs. 80.4% nationally in 2000).

Because of the high cancer rates and demographic factors presented here, adding a source of pollution such as nuclear reactors would further threaten the local population.

I and my colleagues at the Radiation and Public Health Project urge you to not make any decisions on the Bellefonte application unless these health data have been publicly presented and discussed.

Sincerely yours,


Joseph J. Mangano, MPH, MBA
Executive Director
Radiation and Public Health Project, email: odiejoe@aol.com

Cancer Risks and Factors for Jackson County, Alabama or "Assuming the Risks for Bellefonte."

Cancer Photos: Cancer of the Face; Cancer of the Rectum. Gross realities of poisons mutating cells within our body. Fair use for non-profit news reporting, photo credit Jeffrey Melton, MD

 

The following is relative to cancer risks and factors for Jackson County, Alabama. Risks for cancer increase as more and more carcinogenic poisons enter our environment, a pair of nuclear reactors at Bellefonte compound the risks for our community.

Updates, July 29,2012: link- http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/map/map.withimage.php?01&001&001&00&0&02&0&1&6&0#map Jackson County ranks 10th in Alabama for overall cancer mortality- The death rate is 220.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 204.7 to 238.0 and 141 average annual deaths. North Alabama, as a region, has a high incidence of cancer.

Jackson County (2008 stats) ranks #1 in Alabama for ovarian cancer and #2 for brain cancer, (2012 update-see above stat map, this statistic has changed, although when this article was prepared it was reflected as high. Currently, July 2012, Marshall County leads the state in incidences of brain cancer; ovarian cancer rate is also reflected as a change with Marshall County depicted as 4th in state) http://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/incidencerates/index.php?stateFIPS=01&cancer=061&race=00&age=001&type=incd&sortVariableName=rate&sortOrder=default Jackson County ranks high in other cancers.

Compounding risks and factors. In the Cumberland Plateau and surrounding geological area we have a Radon health risk. Radon is a proven carcinogen. We have other environmental pollution problems. Radionuclide's have been present in our drinking and surface water, these reports may be found here, local reports:(Oct 19, 2011, unfortunately the EPA site is broken, the old links are not working. I have requested an active link to the Jackson County, Alabama water quality reports.) However, here is one link that seems to be working: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/currentregulations.cfm These are the substances reflected in the reports found in Scottsboro's water supply in the past 10 years: Tritium, iodine 131, Strontium 90, Titanium dioxide208. Those substances were also found in Scottsboro's surface water supply, Tennessee River at Scottsboro along with Lead212. (Info on Tritium: http://www.nirs.org/factsheets/tritiumnaturalbackground.pdf Tritium levels frequently exceeded 200 pCi/L in Scottsboro as listed in the NAREL Report linked. Remember, a permissible level does not mean a safe level, ionizing radiation is cumulative. (As the body continues to receive radiation your risk increases for cellular mutations, cancer.)

Stevenson's water supply has been contaminated with known carcinogens, http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/sdw_report_v2.first_table?pws_id=AL0000732&state=AL&source=Groundwater&population=4110&sys_num=0 Risk continues to compound.

This German Report reflects problems for children who live near nuclear reactors. http://politicsnpoetry.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/child-cancer-risk-higher-near-nuclear-plants-study/ The translated study: http://www.bfs.de/en/kerntechnik/kinderkrebs/kikk.html

Adding the additional risk of a nuclear power plant compounds the risk of cellular mutations resulting in cancers, radioactive releases do occur. Citizens must realize there are no safe levels of ionizing radiation, permissible levels are not safe levels. Ionizing radiation is cumulative in the body as well as in nature. The more poison you add to your body the higher risk you assume for cancer, radiation is just one poison. Radiation Facts:http://www.nirs.org/radiation/radiationhome.htm Other fact sheets: http://www.nirs.org/factsheets/fctsht.htm

Important, once radiation is introduced into the food chain, radiation is compounded, dosage is increased as the radiation progresses up the food chain. Once the other poisons enter into the equation, before you know it you lead the state in cancers. Do citizens want the additional risk of cancer from a nuclear power plant? Please note the location of Scottsboro's east side water intake from the Bellefonte proposed twin reactors. (Top of page: Art of Bellefonte Units 3&4, map of Scottsboro water  by TVA, fair use rights for non-profit news reporting. Photo of Stop sign with Bellefonte cooling tower G. Morgan)