I-131 — Press Release

[Your Organization] Releases Communication Materials Related to I-131 Radiation Fallout Exposure

Today [your organization] released communication materials developed in conjunction with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that will help people understand their potential thyroid cancer risk from Iodine 131 (I-131) radiation fallout due to nuclear testing in the 1950s and early 1960s. Materials include brochures, a thyroid screening decision aid, public service announcements, and a new interactive Web site that incorporates a dose calculator for assessing individual exposure. [Your organization] and the NCI worked in close collaboration with advocacy groups concerned about I-131 and thyroid cancer to develop these materials.

Thyroid cancer is relatively uncommon and usually curable, but it is important for people who may be affected to be aware of the risk. Based on NCI data published in 1997, it is estimated that between 11,300 and 212,000 thyroid cancers could be expected to occur among the U.S. population from exposure to I-131 from aboveground testing in Nevada.

[Quote from organization representative on the importance of these materials and their dissemination to the public]

The materials released today are designed for people who have increased risk of exposure to I-131 from nuclear testing in Nevada based on three key factors:

• Age—people who are now 40 years of age or older, particularly those born between 1936 and 1963.
  
  
• Milk drinking—childhood milk drinkers, particularly those who drank large quantities of milk or who drank unprocessed milk from farm or backyard cows or goats.
  
  
• Childhood residence—people who lived in the Mountain West, Midwest, East, and Northeast areas of the United States were generally more affected by I-131 fallout than those in other areas of the country.

The process for developing the materials included extensive input from advocacy groups, community representatives and health officials, as well as research to test the materials' effectiveness. NCI, with input from its partners, convened a group of community representatives interested in the I-131 issue to help develop a communications program. In January 2000, NCI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held an I-131 communications workshop to gather input from representatives of public and state health departments about the best ways to communicate information related to I-131.

Focus groups were conducted to test key I-131 messages, and Web site usability testing on refinements to the dose calculator took place. Community health clinic staff, Native American community leaders, physicians, and state health department officials, among others, were also consulted when developing these materials.

Working with community groups and health care providers, especially those in areas of high exposure to fallout, [your organization] hopes to get the word out about the wealth of materials available to interested public. Environmental advocacy groups, Native American organizations and grassroots organizations will also be key intermediaries in the dissemination of these materials.

To view the new NCI I-131 Radiation Exposure Web site, which includes fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, the dose calculator, and many additional resources, please go to http://www.cancer.gov/i131. Or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER
(1-800-422-6237) to receive free copies of print publications.