Several have attributed the increase solely to the greater ability of diagnosing the condition, particularly relatively small thyroid cancers. įor over a decade, numerous articles in the professional literature have assessed potential reasons for this trend in the US. Large and sustained increases have been documented for both genders, all races, and all age groups. Approximately 57,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the condition in 2017. The age-adjusted annual incidence rate increased 253 percent from 4.33 to 15.27 new cases per 100,000 persons between 19, according to data from cancer registries in nine US cities and states comprising about one-tenth of the national population. Incidence of thyroid cancer has risen more rapidly since the 1970s than any other cancer in many nations, including the US. More studies near Indian Point and other nuclear installations should be conducted to further explore this potential association. Because the two large reactors at Indian Point began operations in 19, and exposures to radioiodine isotopes can manifest as cancer from five years to several decades after exposure, iodine emissions from Indian Point emissions should be considered as a potential factor in these trends. Annual new cases diagnosed among residents of the four counties increased from 51 to 412 between 14. Significant increases occurred for both males and females, and in each of the four counties. This ratio increased steadily, to 1.579 (57.9 percent greater than the US) by the period 2000-2004, which slightly declined to 1.515 (51.5 percent greater) in the latest period available (2010-2014). The relative ratio in the local area was 0.778 in the period 1976-1981, or 22.2 percent lower than the national rate. Rates in the four counties closest to Indian Point, where virtually the entire population resides within 20 miles of the plant, were compared with national trends in the US. Since exposure to radioactive iodine is the only acknowledged root cause of thyroid cancer, a review of temporal trends in incidence since the late 1970s near the Indian Point nuclear power plant, just 23 miles from the New York City border, was conducted. While any cause of this trend has yet to be clearly identified, most analyses have concluded that there are factors other than improved detection accounting for the increase. Want to learn more about 1199 members campaigning for Environmental Justice? Click here.Thyroid cancer incidence has risen steadily in the US for several decades. We need to continue to engage with the utility workers once this thing closes and not just say we’re done.” We need to think about re-training and assistance. That is one of the reasons why a plan for safe decommissioning is so important.”Īlec Baldwin added that: “As plans for the plant’s closure develop, we need to be unswervingly mindful of the people who work there and the fact that they will be losing their jobs. Since the plant is closing, nobody wants to put any money in. Richard Webster, Riverkeeper Legal Program Director, said: “The top of the reactor doesn’t fit properly and the seal has failed eight times. On the New York State grid there is already enough power being generated, the decision to close Indian Point will have minimum impact on energy prices.” The price of renewables is going down all the time. “I never dreamed we’d arrive at this point, with Indian Point being closed down,” actor Alec Baldwin told the assembled activists, “Nuclear energy isn’t a cheap form of power any longer. The decision to decommission Indian Point was the result of a hard fought campaign by union activists, Riverkeeper and community allies who came together to educate the public about its dangers and lobby elected officials, said Castaneda. “The closure of Indian Point will remove the risk of immense devastation in an area where 150,000 of our members live,” she added. Maria Castaneda, the Secretary-Treasurer of 1199SEIU, introduced the event, saying: “It is a great way to start the New Year, talking about the closure of a power plant that has been living on borrowed time.”Ĭastaneda compared the plant, located less than 30 miles up the Hudson River from New York City, to Three Mile Island, a nuclear generating station in Pennsylvania, which suffered a partial meltdown in 1979. The event, organized by NY’s clean water advocates, Riverkeeper, was designed to build momentum for a safe decommissioning plan and to explore clean energy alternatives to the power currently generated by the plant. January 12, 2018Įnvironmental activists, experts and 1199ers joined actor Alec Baldwin the union’s Manhattan headquarters to congratulate NY Governor Andrew Cuomo on reaching an agreement to shut down the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant by 2021. Actor Alec Baldwin Attends Panel Discussion at 1199SEIU on Safe Decommissioning of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and Clean Energy Alternatives.
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