Progress Illinois

The first ever long-term study examining the health impact idled U.S. nuclear reactors have on people living near the facilities found a significant drop in cancer incidents since the plant's closing, prompting researchers to call for further study of other populations near shuttered plants — including two in Illinois.  

In a 20-year period since the California Rancho Seco nuclear reactor closed, there were 4,319 fewer cases of cancer reported in Sacramento County, which has a population of about 1.4 million. The shuttered plant is located about 25 miles from the center of Sacramento city.

The cancer drops were most notable in women, Hispanics and children, according to Joseph Mangano, executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project, and co-author of the report published today in the Biomedicine International journal.

“The need here for more knowledge is great given how many reactors are near major population centers,” Mangano said on a conference call with reporters today. “The bottom line is clear. We need more information about the long-term impact of low level radiation from both idled and currently operating reactors.”

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The following was written by Jacob Swenson, a community activist and University of Chicago student.

Local environmental activists congregated outside of Argonne National Laboratories today, where President Obama was speaking about his plan to create a $2 Billion “Energy Security Fund" for alternative energy research.

In his speech, the President said that we must aim to move cars and trucks entirely off oil by developing cheaper batteries, biofuels, and vehicles that operate on natural gas. The research plan, which is consistent with the President’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, would be funded using royalties from offshore drilling.

Climate activists were only half-hearted by the President’s proposal.

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