6
Thursday, January 24, 1980
University Daily Kansan
Lecturer warns of nuke dangers
Nuclear contamination is a real danger and tighter control should be exercised over nuclear plants, a visiting lecturer told KU faculty and students yesterday.
The lecturer, Carl J. Johnson, director of the Jefferson County, Colo., health department, spoke to about 25 persons in the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Building. He has done extensive research and has written articles on the effects of radiation on health.
"Montana has a state law to control or prevent the construction of nuclear power plants, and I think that the course I would recommend," he said.
JOHNSON SPOKE about the nuclear plant at Rocky Flats, near Denver, and the dangers of nuclear contamination.
He said everyone in the world had been contaminated by plutonium fallout from nuclear weapons testing, a contamination that dissinates slowly.
"All of us have some plutonium from the tests in our bodies," he said. "It would take
about 73,000 days, about 200 years, to excrete one-half of the plutonium."
He said many of the federal standards for radiation levels were not strict enough to prevent medical problems related to radiation.
Lowering the current standard for drinking water from 5,000 picurees, a measure of radioactive material, to 0.16 picurees per liter has been recommended.
"In other words, it's 30,000 times too high," he said.
Johnson said workers in nuclear plants ran a greater risk of illnesses related to radiation.
"Workers with only 1 to 10 percent of the federally allowed radiation limit have chromosome damage," he said.
HE SAID a single exposure of 30 rems, a measure of radioactivity, was enough to increase the incidence of cancer by 12 percent a year.
Colorado has decided that this level of
radiation must be reached before Denver should be evacuated. he said.
"I've beenarguing for five years that 30 rems is too much," Johnson said.
Prevaling winds carry exhaust from the Rocky Plats plant, which makes nuclear bomb components, "right across" Denver, he said.
The plant has had several fires, he said, and has exceeded suggested radiation exhaust limits since 1965.
AUDIOTRONICS 928 MASSACHUSETTS
DOWNTOWN
STAEDTLER-MARS Professional Drafting Materials at Student Prices
Technical Pens
700 S4
list price $33.50
SALE$ 15.88
Superbow Compass Sets
553-11-A6
list price $34.95
SALE$ 22.99
Other Sets at Comparable Savings
KANSAS UNION BOOKSTORES
With two locations to serve you
Main Union, Level 2 Satellite Shop,Satellite Union
We are the **only** bookstore to share its profits with KU students.
The University of Kansas University Lecture Series Presents
Donald F. McHenry U.S.Ambassador to the United Nations
2:00 p.m. Friday, January 25, 1980 University Theatre in Murphy Hall Free and Open to the Public