Publication Laka-library:
Understanding the Three Mile Island accident
| Author | Rosalie Bertell |
 |
3-01-8-11-29.pdf |
| Date | November 1980* |
| Classification | 3.01.8.11/29 (UNITED STATES - SITES - HARRISBURG (TMI)) |
| Front |  |
From the publication:
UNDERSTANDING THE THREE MILE ISLAND ACCIDENT Barriers to be overcome: First, scientific information and public relations material must be converted into easily understood facts. A well-known example is: "An incident in which 100% of subject biota exhibited mortality response", means: "A nuclear accident in which all the fish died" (New York Times report of a U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Report, November 1974). Second, the reports released to the public are designed to define the limits of insurance liability, protect property values, keep the public from losing faith in the nuclear industry, and reduce if possible the cost of clean up (by reducing fear and expectations). Officials attempt to ascertain the most serious affects directly attributable to the accident, and doing this involves numerous hidden assumptions and value judgements on the part of decision makers. These judgements are primarily economic and political. Third, the numerous government regulations, some for normal operation, some for accident situations and some for accidents when the most vulnerable persons are removed (evacuations of pregnant women and children), makes it difficult to understand statements such as: "within government regulations". Fourth, the burden of proof is on the victim, i.e. by custom no health effect is attributed to radiation unless all other causes can be ruled out and the number of victims is clearly beyond a normal range (average plus three standard deviations; 0.2% confidence interval). Fifth, what is not being said is often more important that what is being said. For example, "there will be very few excess cancer fatalities," leaves unanswered questions about non-fatal cancers, cancers which were accelerated by exposure (these are not "excess"), benign tumors, and may other health effects.*) Estimated date