[All] Fw: Regarding Nuclear Risks, warnings by experts and the way forward.

Sat Sep 7 03:02:16 EDT 2013

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
To: "kwynne.mpp at liberal.ola.org" <kwynne.mpp at liberal.ola.org>; "ahorwath-co at ndp.on.ca" <ahorwath-co at ndp.on.ca>; "cfife-co at ndp.on.ca" <cfife-co at ndp.on.ca>; "jmilloy.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org" <jmilloy.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org>; "thomas.mulcair at parl.gc.ca" <thomas.mulcair at parl.gc.ca>; "justin.trudeau at parl.gc.ca" <justin.trudeau at parl.gc.ca>; "Elizabeth.May at parl.gc.ca" <Elizabeth.May at parl.gc.ca>; "stephane.dion at parl.gc.ca" <stephane.dion at parl.gc.ca>; "francis.scarpaleggia at parl.gc.ca" <francis.scarpaleggia at parl.gc.ca>; "linda.duncan at parl.gc.ca" <linda.duncan at parl.gc.ca>; "stephen.harper at parl.gc.ca" <stephen.harper at parl.gc.ca>; "peter.braid at parl.gc.ca" <peter.braid at parl.gc.ca>; "Leona.Aglukkaq at parl.gc.ca" <Leona.Aglukkaq at parl.gc.ca>; "dzimmer.mpp at liberal.ola.org" <dzimmer.mpp at liberal.ola.org>; "dorazietti.mpp at liberal.ola.org" <dorazietti.mpp at liberal.ola.org>; "hjaczek.mpp at liberal.ola.org" <hjaczek.mpp at liberal.ola.org>; "bdelaney.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org"
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Sent: Saturday, September 7, 2013 2:51:57 AM
Subject: Regarding Nuclear Risks, warnings by experts and the way forward. 

Dear Hon. Prime Minister and Ministers.

Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko declared in April that he believes every single Nuclear Power Plant operating in the United States should be shut down, starting with the riskiest. Here are details from an article as published in the New York Times on Sept. 4, 2013.  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/us/ex-regulator-says-nuclear-reactors-in-united-states-are-flawed.html?_r=0

In Fukushima Japan there is evidence that the plant is seeping up to 300 tonnes of  contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean every day. In a separate incident, a water storage tank was found to have leaked about 300 tonnes of highly toxic water, some of which could have found its way into the sea. At the weekend, radiation near another tank was measured at 1,800 millisieverts an hour – a level that could kill an unprotected person in just four hours – and 18 times higher than previously thought. The chairman of the country's nuclear regulation authority, Shunichi Tanaka said monitoring of the more than 1,000 water tanks at the site had been "inadequate". Previously, only two workers were dispatched twice a day to check the tanks, but did not carry personal radiation monitors and failed to keep proper records of their inspections. Details
 here: http://www.alternet.org/environment/japan-promises-action-fukushima-300-tons-contaminated-water-seep-pacific-ocean-daily?page=0%2C0&akid=10884.290405.NNmedw&rd=1&src=newsletter891803&t=12
Meanwhile in Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission announced that its Radiation and Incidence of Cancer around Ontario Nuclear Power Plants from 1990 to 2008 study has been peer-reviewed and published in the prestigious Journal of Environmental Protection. The RADICON study looked at populations living near Ontario’s three nuclear power plants (NPPs) and found no evidence of childhood leukemia clusters in the communities within 25 km of the Pickering, Darlington and Bruce NPPs. The CNSC had released a summary of the study in May 2013.  

Dr. Cathy Vakil who is a board member of CAPE and a member of Physicians for Global Survival and a professor at Queens University worked with Dr. Linda Harvey, President of Physicians for Global Survival to review the report and found flaws based on the following: 

1. Poor design of study 
2. Mathematical Models flawed 
3. Statistical Data Bases weak. 

To review their critique of the RADICON report visit here:  www.cape.ca/permalinked/radicon_critique_june2013.doc‎

I have personally met with Dr. Vakil in Waterloo Ontario on Sept. 12, 2011. We spoke about risks of nuclear power in Canada.  I told her how I met the elders form Fort Chipewyan in Alberta who told me of the plans to build a uranium mine 19km from their reserve. I asked if dust particulates from the naturally occurring uranium by the Tar Sands poses a risk for area residents and workers and she said yes. 

Each day along the Oil Sands there is enough sediment being moved around to fill the Toronto Skydome each day. Where is the data regarding the impact of the particulates on human health, including biometric readings on radiation exposure? 

Could the natural uranium be contributing to the deformities of the Athabasca's fish?  

Currently 1 of every 2 Albertans will develop cancer in their lifetime and 25% of them will die from it.  
http://myleapmagazine.ca/2012/12/albertas-cancer-by-the-numbers/

The EPA has linked oil extraction with radioactive risks. The risks can transfer community to community via pipelines. 
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/drilling-waste.html

Has there ever been a study for uranium in the urine or hair of Tar Sands workers before and after their jobs? Any radiation studies on the residents of Fort Chipewyan? If so what are the results? 

Dr. Vakil stated that Acute Radiation sickness can cause DNA damages, birth defects, immune dysfunction, diabetes, heart disease and auto immune issues. Radiation builds up in the blood, the gonads, embryonic tissues, GI tract. Particularly harmful to children who have fast growing tissues.  Greater adverse impacts on women. 

In my view this sound similar to the list of symptoms being experienced by Fort Chipewyan First Nations in Alberta and residents of Aamjiwnaang by Sarnia. I met elders from from both communities who agree the symptoms on their reserves are similar if not the same. People are dying at both locations of the associated health complications related to oil processing and pollution but could radiation also be a part of this?  

Dr. Vakil stated in Canada, we have on average 2.4 mSv background radiation in our environment and 1.0 mSv acceptable public level/year. For Canadian Nuclear power plant workers, they have a threshhold of 100mSv/5 year or max 50/mSv per year and data shows they have 3.2 excess deaths. It appears the externalized costs of nuclear power are being paid for in human lives. 

These are linear contaminates that bio accumulate over time. The more exposure the more harm. There are no actual safe limits. 

Current Canadian standards for safe levels of exposure are based on diffused impacts rather than localized elevation. For example, if there are spikes of higher exposure ie: removing a spent nuclear rod,  it is not reasonably recognized because Canadian safety levels only observe exposure based on per year values rather than actual exposure values. 

When Hiroshima happened there were estimated deaths of 120,000 people. The first 5 years of scientific data on the impacts of the radioactivityis missing however today's acceptable levels are based on these initial reports with the absence of that 5 year window on impacts to human health. If that data had been provided we may have never seen nuclear power in use for energy supplies.  

In regards to a proposed nuclear storage repository by Lake Huron, if it sinks it could contaminate the Great Lakes. Nobody knows if these systems actually work. We cannot reasonably predict impacts when the facility is intended to store materials for thousands of years!  Meanwhile citizens continue to use electricity and we are not even thinking of the impacts to future generations. 

If the materials sink or there are vertical fractures a repository by Huron could contaminate the Great Lakes. Seismic risks and Karst Moraine features exist here. The area is not secure for long term storage. Modflow models are insufficient and there is a lack of regard for sedimentation composition. To place a repository in the watershed for the Great Lakes is beyond unreasonable.  It is a crime against  future generations who must inherit the toxic messes we create today. This must be stopped.  

Currently nuclear risks appear to be falling under the radar in Canada even though we know radiation from Japan is heading our way. Fukushima's disaster is already impacting commercial fish populations along the West Coast. Ontario appears very pro-nuclear in spite of the fact cost issues have historically risen. There are already plans for a nuclear power facility in Alberta's Oil Sands to be built by Toshiba by 2020. Details here: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/18/toshiba-oil-sands-reactor_n_2505738.html. 

In her personal view Dr. Vakil states the Nuclear Power industry is both unconscionable and diabolical.  I agree. Other experts share similar views including the late Sister Dr. Rosalie Bertell who stated, “There is no such thing as a radiation exposure that will not do damage. There is a hundred per cent possibility that there will be damage to cells." http://www.globalresearch.ca/remembering-rosalie-bertell/31448

Another expert on the matter is the late Doug Rokke. His outstanding credientials are here: http://www.thepowerhour.com/news3/doug_rokke_bio.htm and you can hear him speak about the risks of depleted uranium here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RiwowGOKIU. 

The time has come to cut the ties that bind our nation to both the nuclear and fossil fuel industries. We need the Province and Nation to implement climate change solutions. It is reasonable to say no to a repository in the Great Lakes Basin.  It is reasonable to close Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Power Station. We have the ability to export in hydro power on both sides of Ontario. We have the ability to say no to Line 9 reversal and the Trans Canada Pipeline and we can end fossil fuel subsidies. Say yes to solar, wind and geothermal. Yes to converting sewage, farm and municipal wastes for energy, aggregates and heating systems. Yes to better energy efficiency, better building codes and better design. If we have the faith and courage to act the jobs will come. The prosperity will happen not just for those who live in Alberta but for Canadian communities coast to coast. 

Thank you kindly for your time. 

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ont.
N2V 2L2
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