Post by Ex_Nuke_Troop on Mar 7, 2014 17:07:17 GMT
DOE : Follow-Up Testing Shows No Health Risk for Exposed Employees
CARLSBAD, N.M., March 5, 2014 – Follow-up testing of employees who were exposed to
airborne radioactive material during the February 14 radiation release at the Waste Isolation Pilot
Plant (WIPP) shows exposure levels were extremely low and the employees are unlikely to
experience any health effects as a result.
After initial testing indicated potential low level exposure, follow-up biological samples taken
from the 13 employees who were at the WIPP site during the event came back negative for
plutonium and americium, the two radioactive isotopes that were detected in preliminary bioassays.
“We have sent samples to the Center for Disease Control for validation.” said Farok Sharif,
President and Project Manager of Nuclear Waste Partnership. “Biological testing continues on other
workers who were at the site following the initial exposure event, and there is always the possibility
of positive exposure results from that testing. The ability to detect extremely small amounts of
radioactive material also means there may be false positives that occur throughout the testing
process.”
Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP), the WIPP management and operating contractor, is
working with the United Steel Workers Union to make sure all employee health concerns are
addressed, and that testing is made available to any worker who feels he or she may have been
contaminated during the WIPP release event.
“We appreciate DOE’s support and NWP’s willingness to work with our employees to ensure
their safety and welfare,” said Ricky Fuentes, President of United Steelworkers Local 12-9477.
“Open lines of communication between the Union and NWP have been established to ensure
everyone is being checked for possible contamination.”
Activities at WIPP since the event have been focused on ensuring the health of employees
and the safety of the environment around WIPP, understanding the source of the radiation leak, and
CBFO Media Contact:
Brad Bugger
U.S. DOE Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO)
P.O. Box 3090, Carlsbad, NM 88221
(575) 234-7309
www.wipp.energy.gov
NWP Media Contact:
Donavan Mager
Nuclear Waste Partnership LLC
P.O. Box 2078, Carlsbad, NM 88221
(575) 234-7586
www.nwp-wipp.com
www.wipp.energy.gov/pr/2014/Second%20Bioassay%20Sample%20Results.pdf
CARLSBAD, N.M., March 5, 2014 – Follow-up testing of employees who were exposed to
airborne radioactive material during the February 14 radiation release at the Waste Isolation Pilot
Plant (WIPP) shows exposure levels were extremely low and the employees are unlikely to
experience any health effects as a result.
After initial testing indicated potential low level exposure, follow-up biological samples taken
from the 13 employees who were at the WIPP site during the event came back negative for
plutonium and americium, the two radioactive isotopes that were detected in preliminary bioassays.
“We have sent samples to the Center for Disease Control for validation.” said Farok Sharif,
President and Project Manager of Nuclear Waste Partnership. “Biological testing continues on other
workers who were at the site following the initial exposure event, and there is always the possibility
of positive exposure results from that testing. The ability to detect extremely small amounts of
radioactive material also means there may be false positives that occur throughout the testing
process.”
Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP), the WIPP management and operating contractor, is
working with the United Steel Workers Union to make sure all employee health concerns are
addressed, and that testing is made available to any worker who feels he or she may have been
contaminated during the WIPP release event.
“We appreciate DOE’s support and NWP’s willingness to work with our employees to ensure
their safety and welfare,” said Ricky Fuentes, President of United Steelworkers Local 12-9477.
“Open lines of communication between the Union and NWP have been established to ensure
everyone is being checked for possible contamination.”
Activities at WIPP since the event have been focused on ensuring the health of employees
and the safety of the environment around WIPP, understanding the source of the radiation leak, and
CBFO Media Contact:
Brad Bugger
U.S. DOE Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO)
P.O. Box 3090, Carlsbad, NM 88221
(575) 234-7309
www.wipp.energy.gov
NWP Media Contact:
Donavan Mager
Nuclear Waste Partnership LLC
P.O. Box 2078, Carlsbad, NM 88221
(575) 234-7586
www.nwp-wipp.com
www.wipp.energy.gov/pr/2014/Second%20Bioassay%20Sample%20Results.pdf
so whats happening in the Solomons, is haarp missing its mark?