Workshop Shapes Communication Plan on Radiation Fallout

Extract

Late last month the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, convened a workshop to begin developing a communications plan surrounding the public health implications of exposure to iodine-131 from fallout from nuclear testing in Nevada in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The workshop, which was held Jan. 19 to 21 at the Doubletree Hotel in Rockville, Md., was designed in conjunction with community representatives and health officials.

Throughout the 3-day event, NCI and CDC sought the assistance of affected and concerned citizens, health and environmental nonprofit organizations, health care providers, public health and other local government officials, experts in radiation sciences, and experts in health and risk communications in the planning and implementation of a communications campaign.