Oak Ridge is a city beleaguered. During the past several years, negative publicity by a limited number of individuals, organizations and newspapers (primarily the Nashville Tennessean) has seriously damaged the image of Oak Ridge, TN to the degree that its economic future is imperiled. In spite of the fact that all environmental and health data indicates the contrary, these detractors claim the City is the recipient of "toxic rain" from the nuclear plants operated by the Department of Energy (DOE). The rain is said to be an ill-defined mixture of radioactive and chemical pollutants, and is said to fall in amounts sufficient to have reduced the life expectancy by "decades" and to have caused our citizens to glow in the dark. Nothing could be further from the truth. The following is some of the information documenting the real conditions in Oak Ridge and surrounding counties.

• The averaged Tennessee Department of Health Mortality Data for Anderson, Roane and Knox counties are less than that of Hamilton (Chattanooga), Davidson (Nashville) or Shelby (Memphis) counties. This is inconsistent with a claims of reduced life expectancy.

 
• The Lower East Fork Poplar Creek floodplain has been remediated to a level declared protective of human health and the mercury meets the drinking water standards. Abnormal mercury levels were not found in the LEFPC residents.

 
• The Scarboro Soils Study shows the mercury and uranium levels to be within the range of background and the uranium contribution from Y-12 to be negligible.

 
• The Scarboro Respiratory Health Study revealed that the Scarboro children appeared typical and the asthma rate was within the range of other cities.

 
• The Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) Annual Site Environmental Reports indicate that the most exposed off-site individuals and the average exposed regional individual received negligible radiation doses.

 
• The Aerial Radiological Surveys show that the off-site gamma radiation levels are typical background levels. This is confirmed by walkover surveys.

 
• The PCB Fish Advisories on the Clinch and Lower Watts Bar Reservoirs give guidelines for fish consumption. A recent study has shown normal blood serum levels in heavy fish eaters. Most of the PCBs do not come from the ORR.

 
• Except for the known cases of chronic beryllium disease, the many worker studies have not established a significant causative relationship between ORR worker illnesses and the workplace. Continuing studies are attempting to evaluate worker's concerns.