Cancer rates can be tied to nuclear plant

It is tragic that cancer rates are still dramatically increasing around Limerick Nuclear Plant, especially for children. We are fortunate that Joseph Mangano, Radiation and Public Health Project director, provided us with a new report on Pennsylvania Cancer Registry data revealing the tragic truth. Mangano’s February 22 Mercury op-ed, and previous shocking cancer data around Limerick, should have all residents and our elected officials calling for Limerick Nuclear Plant to close, to stop this madness and protect the health of millions of Greater Philadelphia Region families.

Previously, PA Cancer Registry and CDC data revealed skyrocketing cancer rates in communities around Limerick Nuclear Plant from the mid-1980s to the late1990s. Childhood cancer rates were a shocking 92.5 percent higher than the national average, and far higher than state averages. We urge you to review the sad reality at www.acereport. org, Section # 2, “Cancer - Skyrocketing Increases, Links to Limerick.”

Limerick Nuclear Plant has unleashed a broad range of radionuclides into our air and water since it opened in 1985.

The harmful health impacts are additive, cumulative and synergistic. To better understand the risks see wwwacereport.org, Section #1, “Radiation—Limerick’s Routine Releases” and Section #3, “Radiation—NO Safe Dose.”

Our radiation risks from Limerick Nuclear Power Plant could have been reduced from the beginning, and still can be reduced. Why have they not? You won’t hear the truth about the radiation threats from Limerick because of politics and profits.

• Since the beginning, PECO/Exelon refused to spend the money to provide the kind of filtration that would significantly limit our radiation exposure. Exelon is still refusing to install filtered radiation vents at Limerick, as recommended after Fukushima.

• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) officials appear detached from radiation reality, even looking foolish at times. Why? Could it be because many of their jobs depend on Limerick’s continued operation? A few NRC jobs are not a justifiable reason to continue poisoning our population with radiation.

• Silence from our elected officials suggests they value campaign contributions and getting reelected more than our health. They refuse to speak out to protect you and your children from increasing risks of getting cancer.

Our children are the barometers of the health of our society. It is long past time to demand that our state and federal elected officials protect us from all radiation-related avoidable cancers. Failure to take action to close Limerick Nuclear Plant is no longer an acceptable option. — Dr. Lewis Cuthbert ACE President