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Radiation from CTs – a bigger risk with repeated scans

CT scans produce widely differing radiation doses, CBC News  Nov 15, 2011  A Manitoba study has found the amount of radiation patients receive from a CT scan can vary widely and should be reduced to better protect against the risk of cancer.

CBC News obtained the study through a freedom of information request to CancerCare Manitoba. The study recorded the dose of radiation to patients getting a CT scan at 13 Manitoba hospitals and compared that to similar surveys done elsewhere.

The researchers found that the average effective radiation dose for abdomen-pelvis scans was 21 per cent higher than in Saskatchewan and 15 per cent higher than in British Columbia. For a chest scan, the radiation dose for Manitoba was three per cent higher than in Saskatchewan and 25 per cent higher than in B.C….

The study notes CT — computed tomography — has become an invaluable tool for diagnosing medical conditions but there is increased worry because in recent years several international studies have linked CT radiation to cancer. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, Manitoba patients underwent more than 160,000 CT scans.

For patients who will need a number of scans during the course of their illness, the study said cumulative radiation doses can be quite large and could reach the threshold associated with an increase in cancer risk…. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/11/14/iteam-ct-scan-radiation-manitoba.html?cmp=rss

November 16, 2011 Posted by | Canada, health | Leave a comment

Canadian authorities turned blind eye to depleted uranium affected soldiers

Gulf War vets wounded and angry,CNews By Kris Sims, Parliamentary Bureau, 10 Nov 11 OTTAWA — All of Louise Richard’s hair fell out after she came home from the Gulf War. “Ninety-five percent of the casualties we dealt with were Iraqi prisoners of war,” the former army nurse said. “They were obviously totally contaminated with depleted uranium, they had shrapnel, we operated on them, so here we were — hands in guts and breathing all of these things.”
Gulf War veterans say they have been suffering for 20 years after being exposed to depleted uranium in the Persian Gulf in 1991.  Continue reading →

November 10, 2011 Posted by | Canada, depleted uranium, Uranium | Leave a comment

Global nuclear industry in turmoil – uranium company’s profit drops 60%

Cameco reduces production forecast, Globe and Mail, BRENDA BOUW — MINING REPORTER, VANCOUVER, Nov. 07, 2011 Uranium giant Cameco Corp.  lowered its annual production forecast and reported third-quarter financial results below expectations amid continuing upheaval in the nuclear power industry.

Saskatoon-based Cameco, in a bidding war with Rio Tinto PLC for Hathor Exploration Ltd. during the current uranium price slump, cited “unfavourable market conditions” for the earnings underperformance…..

Production of uranium used to fuel nuclear power plants fell 5 per cent to 5.3 million pounds in the quarter, and for the year it is expected to drop 1 per cent to 21.7 million pounds, Cameco said. It also lowered guidance for UF6, a compound used to make enriched uranium, by 6 per cent….

profit fell 60 per cent…… Cameco shares closed down 6.5 per cent to $20.35 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday, a sign investors are worried that Cameco will continue to suffer from volatility in the sector following the Japanese nuclear disaster.

“We expect the current uncertainly in the uranium market to linger for the near to medium term,” Mr. Gitzel warned.

Driving industry concerns are forecasts for excess uranium inventories in Japan and Germany, which represent 12 and 5 per cent of global nuclear generating capacity, respectively. Germany is phasing out its nuclear program, and Japan is operating only 11 of its 54 reactors since a tsunami and earthquake destroyed its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant this past March…..

China, too, is slowing its rapid nuclear power expansion plans as it takes extra measures to ensure its facilities are safe….

November 8, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Canada, Uranium | Leave a comment

Canadian army never told soldier about his depleted uranium test results

The 2001 lab results, copies of which were supplied to The Canadian Press by Lacoste, were performed two years before tests conducted by a civilian doctor also found high levels of uranium in his hair.

Lacoste’s  fight is also directed at helping other ex-soldiers he believes might be suffering from the health effects of depleted-uranium exposure, but might not even be aware of it.

Hunger-striking vet says Ottawa never disclosed his positive uranium tests, Winnipeg Free Press, By: Andy Blatchford, The Canadian Press, 11/2/2011  MONTREAL – A former soldier battling a series of health problems says the Canadian Forces failed to inform him that medical tests showed he was carrying an unusually high level of uranium.

Pascal Lacoste eventually filed a request under the Access to Information Act to see his own medical files, which revealed his hair samples contained “abnormally elevated” amounts of the metal. Continue reading →

November 3, 2011 Posted by | Canada, depleted uranium, health | Leave a comment

Canada could be drawn into USA military operations

By participating in such a program, … there’s a risk of making Canada more likely to become involved in future U.S. military operations.

Ottawa to spend up to $477M on U.S. military satellites, NATIONAL POST Canada, By Lee Berthiaume, Oct 26, 2011 OTTAWA — The federal government is planning to spend as much as $477-million to participate in a U.S.-led military satellite program that has been subject to delays and cost overruns over the past decade, Postmedia News has learned.

The Wideband Global Satellite system has been advertised by the U.S. Defense Department as a communications system for “U.S. warfighters, allies and coalition partners during all levels of conflict, short of nuclear war.”

The idea is to have as many as nine military satellites hovering over different parts of the world, ready to provide high-frequency bandwidth for U.S. and allied forces wherever they may be operating….. Continue reading →

October 28, 2011 Posted by | Canada, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Canada underestimated radiation doses of health care workers

Radiation doses of 1,769 health care workers under-reported for four years The Star. com, 26 oct 11, A system used by 1,769 health care and research workers to measure their workplace radiation exposure may have under-reported radiation levels since 2008, says the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The commission says a “calculation error” in the management system used by the devices is responsible for the low readings. Continue reading →

October 27, 2011 Posted by | Canada, health | Leave a comment

Liberal Party re-election in Canada renews hope for renewable energy

Green energy sector cheers Ontario election result, (Reuters) by Nicole Mordant in Vancouver 8 Oct 11,  – Ontario’s renewable energy industry breathed a sigh of relief on Friday and manufacturers looked forward to a surge in demand after voters in the province returned the Liberal Party to power, albeit without a majority.

Shares in renewable energy companies rose on expectations of an end to an industry slowdown caused by months of uncertainty over the future of the Liberal-sponsored green energy plan and its generous feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme for renewable power developers.

The opposition Progressive Conservative Party, which had been well ahead in the polls for much of the campaign, had threatened to abolish the FIT program, which pays well above-market rates to developers of green power.

October 8, 2011 Posted by | Canada, politics | Leave a comment

Plight of Canada’s veterans with cancer from depleted uranium

 All efforts to get adapted care for his condition lead no where since Veterans Affairs do not acknowledge depleted uranium poisoning.

Ex Canadian Forces Soldier To Go On Hunger Strike To Protest Against Depleted Uranium Exposure October 2, 2011,  Ottawa Citizen Sylvain Bouchard: On November 5th 2011, Pascal Lacoste, an ex-soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces and a very good friend of mine, will go on a hunger strike in front of Steven Blaney’s office at Lévis-Bellechasse 115, route Kennedy, 101 Lévis (Québec) G6V 6C8 Canada.

 After 12 years of fighting with the Canadian government to acknowledge that he and other members of the Canadian Forces have been poisoned with depleted uranium while on duty, he no longer sees any alternative than to go out on his terms, go out fighting. Continue reading →

October 3, 2011 Posted by | Canada, depleted uranium, health | Leave a comment

Court action in Canada over approval for nuclear reactors

 federal environmental assessment (EA) of the new reactors is flawed for several reasons, including:

  • it failed to examine a specific reactor or cooling water technology;
  • it failed to consider the long-term environmental effects of radioactive waste; and
  • it failed to look at alternatives to the project, such as green energy…..

 Environmentalists go to court to halt new Ontario nuclear reactors, Northumberland View, Sep 29, 2011  Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Greenpeace Canada, and Ecojustice, Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Risks to Lake Ontario and surrounding communities unclear after flawed assessment

— Environmental groups have asked a federal court to stop government agencies from approving construction of new nuclear reactors at Darlington until an environmental assessment is fully completed and shows the project won’t negatively impact the environment or human health as required by law. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

Darlington nuclear review unsatisfactory, – more study needed

Court asked to order Darlington nuclear review, The Star.com John Spears, 29 Swept 11,  A federal panel failed to complete the job of reviewing the environmental impact of new reactors at the Darlington nuclear station, four environmental groups have told a court.

As a result, no further permission should be granted toward letting the project continue until the panel finishes its job, the groups ask. They’ve filed an application with federal court, seeking an order sending the issue back to the review panel. Continue reading →

September 30, 2011 Posted by | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

Wind turbine project boosts employment in Ontario

Siemens Wind Turbine Expansion to Create 600 Jobs in Ontario, Business Facilities, 26 Sept 11, Pattern Energy Group LP and Samsung Renewable Energy have announced the completion of an expanded agreement with Siemens to supply turbines for four wind energy projects totaling 870 megawatts (MW). Up to 600 jobs will be created from CS Wind’s tower and Siemens’ blade factories in Windsor and Tillsonburg, Ontario, respectively. Together, the four projects will provide enough clean energy to power more than 300,000 local homes in Ontario each year.

“By committing to Ontario-made turbines, we are focused on bringing new jobs and revenue to the province, along with clean energy,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. “The creation of up to 600 new jobs is direct evidence of the successful framework established by the Green Energy Act and Green Energy Investment Agreement. Together, these initiatives have created a vibrant green energy economy in Ontario, developing wind power projects, building factories, and putting thousands of Ontarians to work throughout the province.”…. http://businessfacilities.com/news/siemens-wind-turbine-expansion-to-create-600-jobs-in-ontario/

September 27, 2011 Posted by | Canada, renewable | Leave a comment

Lengthy, expensive wrangle over uranium spill ship

as a heavy metal, uranium is also toxic in the same way as lead or mercury. The compound is certainly not safe to be ingested or inhaled, and cleaning it up requires specialized knowledge and equipment, 

Uranium spill ship moored in limbo off North Vancouver, Empty ship for sale by bankrupt owners while cargo’s costs subject of civil suit, By James Weldon, North Shore News September 25, 2011 A ship that made headlines this year when a large amount of radioactive cargo spilled in its hold has wound up in limbo off North Vancouver while the owners duke it out in court….. Continue reading →

September 26, 2011 Posted by | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

Every extra bit of ionising radiation increases your cancer risk

Nuclear policy experts: No safe radiation level from Fukushima,THE CANADIAN,  11 SEPTEMBER 2011 Daniel Hirsch, a renowned expert on nuclear policy often quoted by major media outlets, spoke at the Stevenson College Event Center on the tragedy at the Fukushima plant and how the U.S. can prevent a similar meltdown at its 104 nuclear reactors, including the two in California.

Hirsch warned that a decades-old study estimated that a meltdown at the Southern California nuclear plant in Onofre could release enough radiation to immediately kill 130,000 people, cause cancer to 300,000 and genetic defects in 600,000 more.

“Every amount of radiation exposure increases your risk of cancer,” he said. “There is no safe level of radiation….”http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/news/intrnational/2011/09/11/783.html

September 12, 2011 Posted by | Canada, health | Leave a comment

9/11 anniversary – a time for bipartisan effort to prevent nuclear disaster

The nuclear bottom line remains ominous. ….During the last two U.S. presidential elections, both the Republican and Democratic nominees recognized the nuclear danger and agreed on the broad outlines of a response. ……

the public deserves a debate whose goal is not to score political points, but to focus solely on reducing nuclear threats to the American people.

Too much to ask? Not if we expect to act with the urgency necessary to avoid what President John F. Kennedy once referred to as “the final failure.”

      The Final Failure, This is no time for either President Obama or the GOP to forget the threat of nuclear weapons., FP, BY SAMUEL R. BERGER, STEVE ANDREASEN | SEPTEMBER 8, 2011   In the decade since Osama bin Laden masterminded the 9/11 attacks, U.S. security policy has centered on al Qaeda and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — fueled by a deep and bipartisan concern that a terrorist group might acquire the means to strike again, this time perhaps with nuclear weapons…..

Continue reading →

September 9, 2011 Posted by | Canada, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Lower deman for uranium is forecast

Uranium One cuts demand forecast by 8%-10% TORONTO Mining Weekly, 9th August 2011 – Canada’s Uranium One has cut its demand growth projections for uranium for its namesake product by 8% to 10% over the next decade,…..

Last month, Australia-based Paladin Resources cut its 2012 uranium production guidance to 7.4-million pounds and 7.9-million pounds from the previous forecast of 8.2-million pounds, mainly because of delays to its stage-three expansion at the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia.

This was followed by an August 4 announcement by uranium’s perennial under-performer, Rio Tinto’s Energy Resources of Australia, that it had nearly halved the reserves at its Ranger mine……

Yellow cake prices dropped to $49/lb from around $66/lb in the immediate wake of the Japanese disaster, and have since settled at about $52/lb.–

August 11, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Canada, Uranium | Leave a comment

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