Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Dan Rather

(Oak Ridge, Tennessee) Possible government effort to deny necessary information on health risks faced by employees of nuclear weapons plants examined; Joe Harding's case cited as example [Voice of HARDING - describes working conditions in uranium processing plant.] [Clara HARDING - notes late husband learned the hard way.] Background to problem reviewed. [Dr. Clarence LUSHBAUGH - denies causal association between exposure to uranium and later health effects.] Energy Department's internal documents said verifying excess of deaths from cancer among nuclear defense workers exposed to uranium dust and radiation; plants involved in government findings listed, illustrated on map. [Representative Timothy WIRTH - notes contradictions in government stmts.] Wirth said introduction legislature depriving Energy Department of responsibility to conduct its own studies on health risks for workers. Former nuclear chemist Dr. James McLaren's experience and resulting suit against Energy Department outlined. [McLAREN - recalls high leukemia rate among co-workers.] [LUSHBAUGH - doesn't feel obligated to reveal preliminary findings.] [Environment Policy Institution spokesperson Robert ALVAREZ - notes implications for workers by suppression and misrepresentation of studies.] Energy Department's conclusions about Harding's death mentioned. [Dr. Alice STEWART - interprets government's findings about Harding.]
REPORTER: Ed Rabel