ERWIN, Tenn. (AP) — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is sponsoring a cancer risk study at Erwin's Nuclear Fuel Services.
The agency announced Tuesday that the study will be carried out by the National Academy of Sciences.
The Johnson City Press reports (http://bit.ly/WICpUt) that the government currently relies on 22-year-old data in assessing the cancer risks associated with living near Nuclear Fuel Services and similar facilities.
The 1990 study found no increased risk of death from cancer for people living near nuclear facilities.
The new study will be piloted at seven sites around the U.S. and used to determine the feasibility of carrying out cancer studies nationwide.
Nuclear Fuel Services is the only non-reactor facility to be included in the pilot study, which is expected to take two to three years to complete.
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Information from: Johnson City Press, http://www.johnsoncitypress.com
