NJ OFFICIALS HOLD FIRST PUBLIC TALKS ON RADIATION TOOTH STUDY

The first public discussion of a landmark study of radiation in baby teeth was held by New Jersey officials who have been sharply critical of its findings.

The study found that radioactive Strontium-90 in baby teeth is 20 to 50% higher near nuclear plants (including Oyster Creek in Ocean County) has risen 50% since the late 1980s, and may be higher in children with cancer. Results were discussed by Joseph Mangano of the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP), which conducted the project. Mangano was invited to testify by the Commission on Radiation Protection.

“The baby tooth project is the only study to ever measure in-body levels of radiation near U.S. nuclear power plants,” said Mangano. “Our findings show that emissions from plants may be entering the bodies of local residents and raising cancer risk.” Mangano noted that RPHP has tested over 4,000 baby teeth for Strontium-90, mostly near seven nuclear plants. Study results have been published in four medical journal articles.

“The health risk of low level radiation to children living in the vicinity of nuclear plants is one of the important reasons Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch is calling for the immediate shutdown of Oyster Creek,” said Edith Gbur, a spokesperson for the group. “We need to demonstrate scientifically that the nuclear plant has harmed people, especially children.” Gbur, who also was invited to testify before the Commission, stated that high cancer rates in New Jersey are yet unexplained.

In June 2003, the New Jersey state legislature appropriated $25,000 to RPHP to collect 50 baby teeth from New Jersey children with cancer and test them for Strontium-90 levels. The appropriation was announced in November 2003 at the Hackensack University Medical Center, with Gov. James McGreevey as the keynote speaker.

The following month, Commission on Radiation Protection chair Dr. Julie Timins wrote McGreevey, advising him that RPHPs work was “flawed” and had “substantial errors in methodology and statistics.” Timins recommended that the state not release any additional funds for the RPHP tooth study. Mangano submitted a final report to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in November 2004.