My first three years of life I lived in Peekskill, New York, and I grew up in Westchester County, right outside of New York City. It's always surprised me how many of my friends and neighbors from the "old neighborhoods" have thyroid cancer and other thyroid problems. I always suspected that there was something in the air or water back in the 60s and 70s that was damaging to our thyroid glands, but we haven't seen any studies or specifics that explained the situation...until now. An article just published in the International Journal of Health Services has found that thyroid cancer rates in the four counties surrounding the Indian Point nuclear power plant, which is located in Buchanan, New York (south of Peekskill, and 24 miles north of New York City) - Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester -- are the highest in New York State. The thyroid cancer rates in those four counties around Indian Point are also among the highest in the U.S., with a rate of thyroid cancer that is 66% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The accidental release of radioactive iodine into the atmosphere from the nuclear plant, which started operations in 1962 (when I was just a baby) is thought to be the potential cause of this increased risk.
Some media coverage of the issue:
For what it's worth, I'll add that I received a copy of a rebuttal statement from Paul Steidler, Director of Communications for the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance. (You can read the full statement online here in PDF format.) The New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (New York AREA) is a coalition of business and other groups that includes Entergy, the company that owns the Indian Point facility. Their statement, says (not surprisingly) that they feel there is "no basis for claims by anti-nuclear activists..." and that the members of "the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance stand by Indian Point as safe on all critical measures including public health."Source: Mangano, Joseph. "Geographic Variation in U.S. Thyroid Cancer Incidence and a Cluster Near Nuclear Reactors in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania." International Journal of Health Services, Volume 39, Number 4 / 2009, 643 - 661 Online link.
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Wow! I can just imagine how you must feel. It seems like an awful lot of my neighbors have thyroid cancer or other thyroid problems and I have also wondered what the connection, if any, may be. We don’t have a nuclear reactor, but I’m sure we have plenty of pollution being in an old mining town and in the valley where the smog settles.
I wouldn’t believe any of this.
The author of the study in question has highly questionable credentials – and is not even a doctor. His “evidence” is circumstancial at best – and also has has long been refuted by credible national and academic organizations.
In sum, there is no basis in fact for any of Mangano’s charges.
Grew up in Putnam county – Dad worked at Indian Point since it opened till around early 80’s.
After college I moved to Ossining (1975) – then Croton – then in 1986 or so to Montrose. Youngest daughter born 1981 diagnosed with thyroid cancer 3 years ago.
My father diagnosed with asbestos in lungs years ago. Worked for ConEd in NYC in late 40’s till Indian Point in 1960 . Thank you Con Ed!
I grew up in Buchanan, with Indian Point less than a half mile away from our house, and I have at least 8 large nodules on my thyroid. Thankfully none have turned out to be cancerous, but I have to endure the pain of biopsies every couple of years to be sure that none turn cancerous.
I absolutely believe that growing up with a nuclear power plant in my back yard contributed to my thyroid problems.
I’m a downwinder with Graves disease. My older sister and mother are as well – with thyroid cancer and colon cancer. They have both recieved compensation for their cancers from the US government for exposure to radioactive iodine from nuclear bomb testing in the 1950’s and 60’s. Thyroid disorders are caused by the same fallout, but no compensation was approved for that – only for the cancers.
To learn more about whether you are a “downwinder”, visit:
http://www.cancer.gov/i131
In a report by the National Cancer Institute, released in 1997, it was determined that ninety atmospheric tests at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) deposited high levels of radioactive iodine-131 (5.5 exabecquerels) across a large portion of the contiguous United States, especially in the years 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1957—doses large enough, they determined, to produce 10,000 to 75,000 cases of thyroid cancer. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990 allowed for people living downwind of NTS for at least two years in particular Nevada, Arizona or Utah counties, between January 21, 1951 – October 31, 1958 or June 30, 1962 – July 31, 1962, and suffering from certain cancers or other serious illnesses deemed to have been caused by fallout exposure to receive compensation of $50,000. By January 2006, over 10,500 claims had been approved, and around 3,000 denied, for a total amount of over $525 million in compensation dispensed to “downwinders”.[10] Additionally, the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 provides compensation and medical benefits for nuclear weapons workers who may have developed certain work-related illnesses.[11]
Uranium miners, mill workers, and ore transporters are also eligible for $100,000 compassionate payment under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, while $75,000 is the fixed payment amount for workers who were participants in the above-ground nuclear weapons tests.
I suffer from Graves which is commonly genetic in my family, I refuse iodine as a treatment because radioctively destroying a vital organ is not a solution in my mind. Causes and treatments are not understood well enough considering it’s a growing problem. There may not be enough evidence to support accusations but there is definately enough to require further investigation is this case. Obviously there’s no profit or direct liabilty involved to make any changes however…..big business has so much to answer for yet provides the least initiative in solutions which benefit the people it profits from,
I was raised in a small town called Belford, New Jersey. Right behind our neighborhood (and literally behind my street of homes) was a pass through for the Earle Naval Base. The fenced off area had roads that went from the actual Base out to the piers and ships. I have not been able to confirm what type of testing had gone on during the 60’s & 70’s in these areas. Years later (after moving away) I was diagnosed with malignant thyroid cancer. More importantly, a number of children in our neighborhood (at least 5) were diagnosed with some type of cancer and/or died. Coincidence? I don’t think so. This was not a large neighborhood and in my mind even at a minimum of a half dozen children having cancer is just way too much. Does anyone have any knowledge or personal experience of the Earle Naval Base linked to cancers?
I live in CO, we use to have a plant here called Rocky Flats – same kind of stuff happened here as well. MyGrandfather worked there died of cancer at the age of 65. I had thyroid cancer as well as my mother. I know it was from the fires that they had there and I know they will try to cover up as much as they can so they don’t have to compensate people who have gotten sick from their waste. I would be interested in hearing from others who live here,
I was born in 1961 and I grew up in Verplanck, right next to the Indian Point Nuclear Power plant and lived in the area until I was 35. I was diagnosed in 2000 with thyroid cancer and always thought there was a link!
Hi Kerry,
I’m a documentary filmmaker considering doing a film on Verplanck. Among the issues the film would deal with is how the proximity to Indian Point effects Verplanck’s residents’ health. I’ve just begun to develop the story and would love to talk to anyone such as yourself who grew up there!
Please let me know if you’d be willing to talk.
Thanks so much,
Ivy
The government is already paying out millions of dollars to victims of the nuclear bomb testing of the 1950’s and 1960s. People were exposed to high levels of radioactive iodine in many states. Not many know about this compensation, and I’m sure it’s purposely kept low key.
However, you can find all about it here, at our governments’ own website:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/i-131/estimating-your-exposure
How come when it was suspected that I had Graves disease I was told to get Radioactive Iodine treatment?? Although I consented to the screening, I absolutely balked at having my thyroid oblated this way. I have been on Tapazole for several years and I believe it works. Also, they recommend RI for Cats with thyroid disease, even though cats piss everywhere. Isn’t it better to let a cat die, than to contaminate a house or neighborhood with children?
I worked at Indian Point from 81 through 88. I had to crawl through its bowels. Lived in Peekskill. I have been in other nuclear power plants continuously since 88. I have no health issues at all at 51, and am extremely active. Just wanted to present the other side to this story.
Hi all,
I lived close to the border of Yorktown Heights (did a good part of my life). I too had thyroid cancer in late 2000 with devastating and permanent effect. I know of other people that had it at that time and since then and doctors that were baffled at the time seeing an apparent increase in cases.
I do not know if there has been any actual public notice to the public that anything was might have been or is awry at Indian Point until now. I am NOT an activist – but I am not an idiot either. I want the truth.
I have called AREA. Entergy (runs Indian Point) is a member of their association. Their response was to refer me to their website —- For all that they have given to media and published by them go to http://www.area-alliance.org.
Note everyone – that IF there was in fact a leakage or problem at Indian Point that caused a rash of thyroid cancer (and of course I do not know if this the case actually), it is my opinion is that the offending party compensate the damage caused. The public may in fact be on notice as of now…and thus the time to do something is now. Note the IF – because as far as I know – besides a suspicious dramatic increase in thyroid cancer (a direct cause is radioactive exposure) there is nothing that I have seen that states that this happened. I don’t know if it did. All I say here is simply my opinion…not advice of factual statement…just an opinion. If other have like opinions…please post and perhaps we can communicate.
Be well.
As former residents of Peekskill and Montrose in the 60’s and 70’s, I tell you that 3 out of 4 in our family have developed thyroid damage!!! I always wondered what the association was; and it is quite evident that Indian Point was the culprit. Thanks for the revelation. Is there a Class Action we can join?? diana
Feb. 9, 2010
Lived in Riverdale, NY, border of Westchester County, home located directly on the Hudson River, throughout my childhood from 1960 forward. Developed thyroid cancer in mid-40s. My home was down wind on the Hudson River from Indian Point. Now believe the radiation was channelled right down the river by the Palisade Cliffs. Will place add in Westchester paper seeking class action or compensation under the RECA Act.
I’m adding an experience to the list.
I lived in Rockland County for the first 18 years of my life in the 1970s. I had a mulitnodal, goiterous hyperactive thyroid that became so large it obstructed my airway.
I’ve since had the whole thing removed, and now live on synthroid.