Test Site workers’ screening continues
Friday, Dec. 6, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.
A total of 62 former Nevada Test Site workers or their families have received compensation for illnesses related to their work at the nuclear weapons proving ground during the Cold War.
Physicians and specialists from Boston and San Francisco are spending today in Las Vegas to continue monitoring Test Site workers who volunteer for medical screening.
Most of the 62 claims paid by the federal government so far to former Test Site workers cover silicosis, a disease that appeared as spots in the lungs on X-rays during the screenings, said Sandie Medina, project coordinator for the NTS Medical Surveillance Project.
"Many of the former Test Site workers live in Utah and New Mexico," Medina said, but they come to Las Vegas for screening.
The project is coordinated by the Energy Department, the Family Medicine Program of the University of Nevada School of Medicine, and Boston University.
Silicosis is caused by particles of dust that became airborne as workers carved underground tunnels for testing nuclear weapons at the site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
The screening program is offered to former DOE workers who volunteer, Medina said. A screening scheduled for spring has 50 workers who will be re-screened and 200 new employees who have never been screened, she said.
Two claims, including a lump sum payment of $150,000 to widow Dorothy Clayton, covered radiation sickness, Medina said. Clayton received notice in October that her claim had been accepted on behalf of her late husband Glenn Clayton, who worked on recovery teams in the testing tunnels after nuclear weapons experiments.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who led the battle to compensate thousands of Energy Department workers, said he planned to observe the medical screening project today.
Reid is trying to raise awareness of the project and the resources available to former Test Site workers, Dr. Lewis Pepper, the principal investigator on the project, said.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Live Blog: Pacquiao wins by TKO in round twelve
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao: The only fight fans want to see
- Police seek man who stole $2,000 worth of clothing
- Bruised and battered, Cotto says he will fight again
- Boulder City struggles with shocking allegations
- Ensign Federal Credit Union fails
- Live game blog: Rebels open season with 91-52 victory against Pittsburg State
- Construction goes bust, equipment goes on auction block
- Temperatures plunge in Las Vegas
- At halfway point, NFL is all about the quick change
Blogs
The Greene Room
MWC Winners and Losers: Week 11
Elsewhere
Dana White continues to push for event in Abu Dhabi
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Harry Reid is powerful for Northern Nevada, too!
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (14 Comments)
Calendar »
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
- 19 Thu
- 20 Fri
-
Actor's Expo at Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Neil Sedaka at the Orleans
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint
The Joint
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





