Los Alamos, New Mexico is a company town devoted to nuclear technology and weapons production. Seldom do single industry towns extend a warm welcome to public health professionals investigating the putative foibles of their keeper. Since 1994 we have investigated historical emissions from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in relation to health outcomes such as thyroid cancer. A four-fold statistically significant excess of thyroid cancer which occurred in Los Alamos County from 1988 to 1995 (Athas, 1996) has evaded clear-cut explanation. LANL’s traditions of secrecy, limited disclosure of environmental data, and intimidation of its workforce lend sustenance to advocacy-oriented hypotheses regarding the role of past radioactive emissions in current health outcomes. By combining academic research and public health advocacy techniques we have collaborated with citizen, labor and environmental groups concerned with LANL health issues. The collaborations have included: popular education programs, public interest reports, organizing Cold War era occupational disease victims, and litigation under the Freedom of Information Act. The strengths and limitations of adhering to academic conventions in this unique setting are discussed.
Learning Objectives: na
Keywords: Community Collaboration, Environmental Justice
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.