Westchester - A forum regarding the public health and safety aspects coming from the decommissioning of the Indian Point nuclear power plants and the handling of its nuclear waste was held Thursday evening. Kathy Nolan, a pediatrician, an Ulster County legislator, and senior research director for Catskill Mountainkeeper, spoke about the harm, especially to children, which comes from the exposure to possible radioactivity.
“Children frequently also receive greater exposure, basically higher doses of toxins that are in air, water and soil,” said Nolan.
“Children are breathing quickly, and they have greater contact with dust and soil because they don’t wash their hands as frequently. And often their hands go into their mouths, so there are routes of exposure that are particular to children that we don’t see in adults,” she said.
“Women and elderly population, people with existing conditions have unique susceptibilities; they often require, but do not often receive, extra protection,” she said. “In terms of being cancerous agents, they are particularly problematic for young children because young children are growing rapidly and growth requires cell to cell communication for proper development, particularly the nervous system.”
Holtec International, which owns Indian Point, is conducting the decommissioning, and the company wants to discharge a million gallons of water into the Hudson River during the plant closure.
Source: Mid-Hudson News
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