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James T. Lambeth, MD <br /> 2260 Kaiwiki Road <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> Fax 961-0113 <br /> Home Phone 961-3112 <br /> r- - ~ <br /> ' g~ Cl~~ 6 ~,~,i'1 l.a 3'i <br /> May 6, 1997 <br /> Councilman James Arakaki CO'~`_~ ~ HP.VJAII <br /> Chairman COUN I Y <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> <br /> Deaz Councilman Arakaki, <br /> I am writing this letter as a physician in support of plans to provide Hawaii farmers access to a <br /> food irradiator on island for food, fruit, flower and produce treatment. I regret I cannot attend <br /> your meeting on May 7. I am scheduled to be at Kona Hospital that day to provide medical care <br /> through radiology, which may be described as radiation medicine. <br /> I have worked with radiation and radioactivity in medicine for 33 years. I have seen spectacular <br /> advances in use of X-ray for medical diagnosis, in use of radioisotopes for both diagnosis and <br /> treatment, and in use of radiation and radioactivity for cancer treatment. There have been less <br /> noticeable, but equally spectaculaz and important, advances in radiation sterilization of medical <br /> products, in radiation of medicines, and in radiation treatment of fruit and processed food. Most <br /> importantly as knowledge has advanced there has been increasing emphasis and corresponding <br /> advances and improvements in radiation safety. <br /> I have had personal responsibility for use of a variety of devices that produce radiation or <br /> substances that produce radioactivity for research and for treatment and caze of patients. These <br /> include Cobalt 6Q Cesium 137, Iodine 131, Iodine 125, Strontium 89 and 9Q Phosphorus 32, <br /> Technetium 99m, and Radium-226. <br /> I know these radioactive substances can be used and managed safely. I have done so for thirty <br /> years. <br /> I am confident that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is competent to guide and regulate the <br /> safe use of radioactivity. I have had the benefit oversight and control by NRC and its predecessor <br /> in management of radiation facilities for thirty yeazs. <br /> I know the benefits properly managed radiation and radioactivity can provide. I see them every <br /> day. <br /> The people in Hawaii County with expert guidance can manage the technology of a food <br /> irradiator safely as well as the people in France, Chicago, Texas, or Alabama do. Our farmers <br /> need to export to maintain a viable industry. An "Irradiator" can provide the technology to treat <br /> fruit, vegetables, and flowers in a proven predictable manner, on a predictable schedule, with <br /> Comm, liw Z/,~. jr7b <br /> F11e 1'~0. FiyO ~C/P <br /> Ref. Tot Presented~j~~~l~ <br /> llei, Date ~ 11AY 0 7 1997 <br /> <br />