Ward Valley Nuclear Dump

Given Jerry Brown’s stand on all things nuclear, I’m surprised by his association with ICN Biomedicals, a large producer of radioactive waste. However, as a scientist, I realize that many large companies use radiation in some way. The medical community is a particularly large user. For example, the radioactive drug, that was used to treat Grave’s disease in President and Mrs. Bush came from a company like ICN. Also, laboratory research relies on nuclear tracers. The University of California’s use of these tracers makes the campuses a large generator of radioactive waste--comparable, in fact, to ICN.

Of course, “large” is relative. The total amount of this waste generated in California last year amounted to only about 1 pound per person. Not much compared to other wastes produced in the state.

JOEL I. CEHN

Oakland