Richard D. Klausner, M.D.
Director
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

Dear Dr. Klausner:

I am encouraged by the effort of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to look into radiation exposure by Americans in your report Estimated Exposures and Thyroid Doses Received by the American People from Iodine-131 in Fallout Following Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Tests. This report estimates the radioactive Iodine-131 (I-131) fallout exposure from the ninety above ground nuclear bomb tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site in the 1950s and 1960s. I am pleased that the next step in the study will assess the risk of thyroid cancer to those who were exposed to I-131 fallout.

I am particularly interested in the finding that the entire state of Vermont is within the area receiving the highest exposure to I-131 fallout on the east coast. Your report indicates that this high exposure is primarily due to the fact that many Vermonters were dependent on their own dairy cows for milk at the time these tests were conducted. My constituents and I are very concerned about health risks resulting from the possible link between exposure to I-131 and thyroid cancer.

Many Vermonters have contacted me with questions about exposure to I-131 fallout, including concerns about other forms of cancer, thyroid conditions other than cancer, and whether there is still risk of exposure. My staff has been in contact with NCI about addressing these concerns. Your staff has agreed to provide answers to specific questions that I am forwarding from my constituents.

I am pleased that your staff has shown a willingness to alleviate the fears of Vermonters by answering their questions. I would like a full response to each of the attached questions. However, if there are questions which NCI cannot answer, it would be helpful for you to provide guidance as to where to seek information. Because your responses will be posted on my website, I would appreciate your response by email (Senator_Leahy@leahy.senate.gov) or computer disk, in addition to a hard copy.

In order to provide answers to Vermonters in a timely manner, I hope for a draft response to these questions by Monday, October 27. This deadline will provide an opportunity for me to seek clarifications or more detailed answers, if necessary, prior to October 29 when I will post the answers on my website.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,

PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator

Enclosure

Questions related to research

1).  When did the NCI begin to look at I-131 fallout exposure?
2).  How was the study conducted?
3).  Was the frequency or potency of individual devices factored in the exposure estimates?
4).  What exactly is a rad? How is it measured?
5).  How strong is the link between exposure to I-131 and thyroid cancer?
6).  When will it be determined if this exposure to I-131 has resulted in greater numbers of thyroidcancer cases?
7).  Why has cow milk been the focus of the study?
8).  Why is raw milk more dangerous than store-bought milk?
9).  How much research has been done on things other than cows’ milk? For example:

• goat milk?
• soil?
• eggs?
• air?
• water -- drinking or physical contact?
• gardens, vegetation?
• meat from cows and other animals, including wild game?
• dairy products made from cow milk, such as ice cream, cottage cheese, etc.?

Questions related to testing

1)  When exactly were these tests conducted?
2)  Is there danger of exposure now?
3)  Is there still any radiation in the soil and water?
4)  Why is Vermont one of the hot spots? What areas of the country are not?

Questions related to health

1)  Are there other causes of thyroid cancer?
2)  What are the warning signs of thyroid cancer? How treatable is the disease?
3)  What should people who are concerned about their possible exposure to I-131 do?
4)  Are people in some age groups more likely to have been effected than others?
5)  Were pregnant woman more susceptible because they drank more milk?
6)  Could exposure to I-131 cause any thyroid conditions other than cancer?
7)  Could this exposure cause cancer in parts of the body other than the thyroid? Is there any connection between I-131 exposure and Vermont’s high rate of breast cancer?
8)  Is the exposure related to other medical conditions, such as hair loss or premature births?
9)  What effect may exposure have on future generations (offspring of those exposed)?

Other questions

1)  What is the U.S. government doing in light of this report?
2)  Have similar studies been conducted on other environmental hazards such as Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Vermont Yankee?
3)  Will those who were exposed be eligible for any form of compensation?
4)  Is there anything that a Vermont endocrinologist specializing in thyroid cancer can do to help?