Mangano J J
Int J Health Serv. 1994;24(3):521-33. doi: 10.2190/MC2B-10V1-5UCY-LVUP.
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is the site of one of the two oldest nuclear facilities in the United States. Although precise records have not been maintained, low levels of radioactive products have been released into the environment since the facility began operation in World War II. Changes in age-adjusted cancer mortality rates for whites between the periods 1950-1952 and 1987-1989 were analyzed to assess whether these radioactive releases have had any adverse effects on the population living near Oak Ridge. Results indicate that the increases in the local area (under 100 miles from Oak Ridge) exceeded regional increases and far exceeded national increases. Within the region, increases were greatest in rural areas, in Anderson County (where Oak Ridge is located), in mountainous counties, and in the region downwind of Oak Ridge. Each of these findings suggest that low levels of radiation, ingested gradually by local residents, were a factor in the increases in local cancer death rates. Results indicate that more studies of this type are called for and that cessation of all future radioactive emissions from nuclear facilities should be considered.
田纳西州的橡树岭是美国两座最古老的核设施所在地之一。尽管没有保存精确的记录,但自该设施在第二次世界大战期间开始运营以来,已有低水平的放射性产物释放到环境中。分析了1950 - 1952年和1987 - 1989年期间白人年龄调整后的癌症死亡率变化,以评估这些放射性物质的释放是否对居住在橡树岭附近的居民产生了任何不利影响。结果表明,当地(距离橡树岭100英里以内)的死亡率增幅超过了地区增幅,且远高于全国增幅。在该地区内,农村地区、安德森县(橡树岭所在县)、山区县以及橡树岭下风地区的死亡率增幅最大。这些发现均表明,当地居民逐渐摄入的低水平辐射是当地癌症死亡率上升的一个因素。结果表明,需要进行更多此类研究,并且应考虑停止未来核设施的所有放射性排放。