United States	Press Office (A-107)
Environmental Protection	Washington DC 20460
Agency
<&EPA Environmental
News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 13. 1979	Casey (202) 755-Q344
EPA TO REGULATE	Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
RADIONUCLIDES
R-230
Douglas M. Costle said today that Agency studies of
the health effects of radioactive material in the air
show that it poses an increased risk of cancer and
genetic damage in humans.
Costle said, "I have concluded that airborne radio-
active emissions from many different- man-made and
natural sources endanger public	th. As a result,
radionuclides are being listed as hazardous air
pollutants subject to possible future jyulation
by this agency."
"Extensive research has demonstrated that carcino-
genicity and mutagenicity are associated with ionizing
radiation and, therefore, with exposure to radio-
nuclides," Costle said.
EPA said that exposure to ionizing radiation may
increase the risk of many forms of cancer, including
leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the lung, bone,
thyroid, breast, skin, stomach, pancreas, esophagus,
pharynx, large intestine , and others. When .germ
cells of the reproductive organs are exposed, the
risk of genetic damage is increased and can cause
deaths and illness in future generations.
Most radionuclides in the air come from the natural
environment. Uranium, thorium and radium are present
in the soil and have a significant impact on the
environment. When the ore is mined, separated, and
processed into commercial products the population
is sometimes subjected to additional radioactive
airborne emissions.
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Radionuclides are used or produced in thousands of locations
throughout the country including weaponry facilities, nuclear
power plants, industrial plants, research and development
laboratories, and medical facilities. Fossil fuel combustion
processes, such as large coal-fired boilers, also contribute.
Certain mining and milling operations can also increase the
local concentration of radioactive emissions.
Based on the emission data available now, the Agency estimates
that individuals at highest risk from radioactive air pollutants
are those exposed to radon emissions from underground uranium
mines and from uranium mill tailings piles. The greatest
added risk to large population groups is near large coal-
fired power plants on urban sites. These risks are in
addition to the normal risk of cancer due to the natural
background radiation. The current risk of fatal cancer from
all causes in the United States is about one in five.
EPA said pollution control equipment is used in most of
these facilities, but when radionuclides escape into the air
and disperse into populated areas many people can be exposed.
In most cases the greatest danger to people comes from
breathing these emissions, but material which settles on
soil or plants may eventually be swallowed. Settled material
can be blown back into the air. People living near some of
the facilities may be exposed to small levels of direct
gamma rays from airborne or settled radionuclides.
Costle said, "We are trying to devise the data and analysis
necessary to determine control options for these and other
sources of airborne radionuclides. However, we are not yet
in a position to predict what additional control measures,
if any, should be called for to abate these emissions."
"Our current regulatory strategy calls for the sequential
development of several standards including a series of
source specific standards to cover unique situations such as
uranium mines and mills, coal-fired power plants, and nuclear
facilities. Other sources not covered by these specific
standards may be covered by a single general standard," the
Administrator said.
The information used by the Agency in formulating these
estimates of the biological effects of radiation exposure
and the relationships between radiation dose and the effects
on public health is summarized in publications by the National
Academy of Sciences, the United States Scientific Committee
on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International
Commission on Radiological Protection.
EPA also published a preliminary report titled "Radiological
Impact Caused by Emissions of Radionuclides into Air in the
United States" (EPA 520/7-79-006) which contains information
on the amount of radionuclides released into the atmosphere
from major industries known to produce or use such materials.
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Also included in the report are estimates of health risk to
those exposed. The source categories were divided into
three major groups; Facilities licensed by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (e.g., nuclear power reactors), facilities
operated by the Department of Energy (e.g., national laboratories),
and facilities which emit elevated levels of naturally-
occurring radionuclides (e.g., coal-fired plants).
EPA said it considers the current estimates of risks to be
sufficiently accurate to support the decision to list radio-
nuclides as hazardous air pollutants. However, the agency
will continue to improve the preliminary estimates of the
cancer risks caused by facilities which release these emissions
in the air.
The Clean Air Act as amended in 1977 directed the Administrator
to review all relevant information and to publish a list of
air pollutants which cause or contribute to air pollution
and endanger public health. That list must be updated from
time to time in accordance with the requirements in the
Clean Air Act. The law also requires the Administrator to
propose regulations establishing emission standards within
180 days after listing the pollutant.
Public hearings will be held when standards are proposed.
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