U.S. government studies about radiation are plagued by poor data, secrecy that prevents peer review and a history of suppressing critical reports and scientists.
That's according to a new study by Physicians for Social Responsibility, the U.S. affiliate of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.That casts a cloud on constant government assurances that its studies show nuclear arms production and testing are safe - including decades of nuclear testing in Nevada, upwind from Utah.
"On the basis of this record . . . there is no firm scientific assurance for those (government) assurances of safety to workers and probably to the public," the study's co-author, Dr. H. Jack Geiger, told a press conference Thursday.
The new report critiques years of published Department of Energy studies about the possibility of radiation-caused cancer among workers at nuclear arms facilities. The group said troubling patterns that emerged in their review also suggest that assurances about public safety may lack merit.
For example, the report said some of the worst instances of secrecy affecting public health occurred early in the history of above-ground nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, which spread fallout in Utah.
It quoted an old Atomic Energy Commission document saying "no drastic action" warning of fallout dangers that "might disturb the public should be taken unless it is clearly felt that such action is essential to protect local residents from almost certain damage."
The document added, "It is assumed that any member of the general public (mainly in Utah from the tests) may receive external exposure up to 25 rem without danger." The new study notes guidelines now say the general public should not be exposed to more than 0.1 rem per year. (A rem is a measure of ionizing radiation.)
The new study complained that the Department of Energy and its predecessors "had a virtual monopoly on the collection and analysis of data," and denied access to independent scientists in the name of national security - which it said amounted to having the fox guard the chicken coop.
The study also noted numerous instances in which the government fired independent contractors who wrote critical studies, and pressured scientists not to release potentially damaging reports.
"The DOE has denied the American people the open and unfettered scientific investigation necessary to determine the extent of the occupational and public heath threats posed by its nuclear weapons complex," Geiger said.