[en] On October 22, 1990 an agreement was entered into between the US DOE and the State of New Mexico. The agreement was designed to assure the citizens of New Mexico that the environment is protected and that public health, as related to the environment is also protected. The Agreement reflects the understanding and commitments between the parties regarding environmental oversight, monitoring, remediation and emergency response at the following DOE facilities: the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute (ITRI); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL); Sandia National Laboratory (SNL); and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). These provision are ongoing through a vigorous program of independent monitoring and oversight; prioritization of clean-up and compliance activities; and new commitments by DOE. While the initial assessment of the quality and effectiveness of the facilities' environmental monitoring and surveillance programs is not yet complete, preliminary findings are presented regarding air quality monitoring, environmental monitoring, and groundwater monitoring

[en] President Clinton appointed Robert James Woolsey, Jr., as his Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). The DCI not only commands the CIA's legions from Langley, but also leads the US intelligence community as a whole, supervising interagency activities. This article describes Woolsey's background and the changes he is likely to bring to the CIA. Woolsey's views on budgets, redundancy in the armed service, development of strategic weapons, research programs, terrorism, weapons proliferation, health issues, and other topics are discussed. Measures which Woolsey can take to adapt the CIA to the changing global situation are proposed. Some of Woolsey's public comments, provided here, reflect a conservative approach to intelligence community management, although Woolsey has also talked about reinventing the CIA to meet the intelligance challenge

[en] This short paper is being submitted at the request of the Food Preservation Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division to facilitate the preparation of the programs for the Advisory Group Meeting scheduled for November 5-9, 1984, Vienna, Austria. The author expresses his views, opinions and comments on the positive effects of food irradiation versus mandatory labelling of the process

No abstract available

[en] A new recommended guideline for the standard data collection of individual identifying information has been developed and tested by Statistics Canada. The purpose of developing a standard method is to improve health record keeping in Canada: in particular for long term medical follow-up studies of individuals exposed to potentially hazardous agents for detection of possible health risks or delayed harm, e.g. individuals exposed to radiation through occupations, the environment, emergencies, or therapeutic practice. A data collection standard is also useful for epidemiological follow-up studies for other occupation groups such as chemical workers and miners, or for lifestyle, genetic and other studies. Statistics Canada, Health Division, Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit (OEHRU), from their experience with long term health studies using the Canadian Mortality Data Base, has prepared a 'Data Collection Package' to include the developed and tested data collection guideline. It is anticipated this will help produce more thorough and comparable on-going record keeping while saving costs and time for many organizations e.g. Atomic Energy Control Board licensees who report radiation doses to the National Dose Registry, as well as for other companies and organizations across the country where long term medical follow-up studies are anticipated now or in the future. It may also allow for broader industrial, national and international comparisons. The guideline consists of a two page Individual Identity Summary (IIS): the first page for completion by the individual/employee to give unique identifying information; the second page for the study organizer/employer to include essential additional information (work history etc.). A third optional page can be used by organizations wishing to collect data on children. The Data Collection Package also includes brief explanatory notes, a suggested file record layout and detailed computer coding advice for entering the data in to a computer file. A computer file will allow for ease of maintenance and extraction for long term follow-up studies

[en] This paper deals with the perception of radiation issues by the public as encountered by the author. A general overview of some of the radiation myths is presented and examples of how these myths are perpetuated are given. Suggestions for improving the public's understanding of radiation issues are made. Finally, the author offers encouragement of those in the health physics area who deal with the public on a regular basis to stand up and take positive steps to improve public understanding on radiation issues. 9 refs., 1 tab., 4 figs

[en] This study was carried out, by questionnaire and personal interview, to assess the extent of the public's knowledge of the procedures employed by MAFF, and other agencies following a food contamination incident involving radioactive contamination. It was also designed to gauge the public's perception of relative risk from routine discharges into the environment and other agents. The study populations were located in 5 locations - 3 near nuclear facilities, and 2 control groups (1 close to a potential chemical polluting plant). The study was not intended to be rigorous (in terms of sex, age and socio-economic group) in random selection of subjects for interview but it was judged that a fairly representative selection of views was obtained from about 50 people at each location. Overall, and importantly, although about 60% claimed that some their diet was locally grown, most people even in these rural areas purchased nearly all of their food and milk in supermarkets. It was difficult to get the interviewees to take the concept of a large incident involving food bans seriously but they seemed to expect the local authority and the police to be prominent in announcing the news. They did not seem to have much confidence in the broadcast media but, when prompted, thought that a MAFF 'hot-line' would be of greatest use in obtaining on-going information. House to house leaf letting was also mentioned as an effective means of disseminating information. Every-one seemed to want more clear information about food contamination in advance of it becoming a real problem - although how they would react to this information was not clear. All groups were fairly conservative when asked about personal risk but became more extreme over risks to society as a whole, particularly in relation to transport and the environment. Overall, as expected, the public perception of relative risk was somewhat divorced from reality. Because of their geographical location and confidents, the study group were quite blase about radiation risk, except the consumption of lamb contaminated with Chernobyl fall-out. In fact, in the case of Sellafield, it might even be difficult to get the public to react sensibly to a real incident, should it occur. However, it was surprising how often well known risks, such as smoking, were down graded in deference to others. Hardly anyone appreciated that there was an increased radiation risk in air travel - but very few had heard of the NRPB. People appeared to need one source of information on food contamination which they could trust and which not only acknowledged the risk but which put it in perspective with everyday risks. If it could be seen as reasonably independent, the Food Agency might fulfil this role

[en] The objective project is to obtain the data on electron paramagnetic resonance of subjects taken from Semipalatinsk Nuclear Testing Site (SNTS) and to develop for them the methods of reconstruction of total fluence, and on this base to create a distribution pattern of fluences and concentrations of Paramagnetic Centers (PMC) as the factors of potential risk for local population. Essence of problem. The tragic events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki demonstrated that single nuclear blasts caused a great damage for health of population lived in these regions. These harmful consequences are observed for tens of years after. The SNTS had various testing of all kinds of nuclear weapons. If we do not make urgent arrangements the consequences of testing will be more harmful including ones for further generations. The development of necessary protecting and preventative measures is able only on a base of comprehensive and objective information about total radiation impact on local population and environment. Anticipated results A validity for selection of SNTS natural specimens and their model prototypes will be provided. Collection of SNTS specimens and their prototypes will be performed. A validity of methods to re-construct the total fluences for selected specimens will be performed. Algorithm to re-construct the total fluences for selected specimens will be worked-out. Data base of EPR characteristics for SNTS specimens and their model prototypes including ones, which were measured during additional irradiation, will be compiled. A distribution pattern for average PMC concentration in selected specimens over SNTS region will be formed. A distribution pattern for total fluences in selected specimens over SNTS region will be formed also. Areas where these results could be applied Data to be obtained will provide an objective information about degree of potential hazard of the further living in SNTS region for people suffered from the previous nuclear tests. These data will be a base to develop a system of health care and preventative measures for rehabilitation of population health and ecology of region. So results of the Project could be applied in area of radiation ecology including a prognostication of nuclear accident consequences related with using, storage and transportation of radioactive materials. Moreover these data could be useful for radiation physics, medicine and biology

[en] This fact sheet focusses on the question of whether irradiation can be used to make spoiled food good. No food processing procedures can substitute for good hygienic practices, and good manufacturing practices must be followed in the preparation of food whether or not the food is intended for further processing by irradiation or any other means. 3 refs

[en] Full text of publication follows: the French Parliamentary Office for the evaluation of scientific and technological choices (OPECST) is currently organizing a consensus conference. Following the model developed by the Danish Board of Technology, a panel of 15 French citizens is being asked to evaluate the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and food. This Danish model for direct citizen participation in technology assessment has gained growing support in other European countries and even further afield, such as Japan and Australia. This is, however, a novel experience for France, which has very little tradition for participatory technology assessment. The final and public phase of the 'conference citoyenne' will take place in Paris on 20-22 June 1998, therefore it is too early to outline our results in this abstract. Our paper will present an analysis of the impact and role of this conference in the wider public debate in France about agricultural bio-technologies. This will be based on interviews with key actors in this debate (scientists, consumer and environmental organisations, politicians), media reports, and video footage of the entire procedure of the consensus conference. (authors)