There have been reports that an inordinate number of the crew at a Loran station who developed leukemia and cancer. There have been a few deaths reported to me.

I'm not raising any red flags here, but I am interested in obtaining copies of any specific reports indicating high ionization radiation levels where Loranimals live, work, and play.

I know I've read a report from the early 80s concerning the Electromagnetic radiation near the antenna, and I used that report to recommend not selling any land at Loran Station Nantucket when that idea was floating around. If anyone has that report, I certainly would appreciate a copy.

There was a radiation study done at Loran Station Dana in the early 90s, the OinC and I had conversations about the increased levels. If anyone has that report, I'd like a copy.

There was a radiation study done on the West Coast in the mid-90s. That report would also be helpful.

The best delivery method would be to scan the document into a word file or pdf file. If you don't want to do that, just give me the details on the front cover so I can track that document down.

Two friends of mine was part of that crew, one suffered ionization poisoning and leukemia and has since passed away. The other has been suffering from ionization poisoning. I've known these men since ET "A" school in 1973. We lived in section A3 of building 400, on Governors Island. I forget the room number, it was six man berthing back then.

Scour any technical documentation and reports you may have. The older technical manuals may indicate some things in the safety section.

Remember this ...

the AN/FPN-15, the PA section was about head height

the AN/FPN-39, the PA section was about head height

the AN/FPN-42, the PA section was about head height

the AN/FPN-44, 44A, and 45, the PA section was about groin height

Each of those transmitters, the filaments were heated to release electrons and will cause ionization radiation, some of which might be sufficient to cause medical problems.

On the electromagnetic radiation side, each station operated at a different level but I don't recall any specific uV/m readings at 1 mile. My last unit, Loran Station Boise City, the SSX delivered 800 peak amperes into a 700 ft antenna. That delivered almost 800 kW to be electromagnetically radiated to the users.

I want the documentation available for download so everyone can be informed. The Loranimals have the right to be informed.

Thank you for your help.

Joe,
Strange follow up but here goes. How many loranimals have small families or no kids? I have none and the testing says it is not me. I wonder.....
Lampedusa and Middletown....

RDBiker,

Lots of Loranimals have small families or no kids. That correlation was noted by a few Loranimals 25 years ago.

Send me an email cpojj@tech-service.net

Joe,
In the early to mid 90's I know there was a large study done at all TTX stations were everyone wore a radiation detection badge and control badges were placed at various places around the unit. I never saw a finial report on the study but shortly after we began wearing them a large shipment of lead aprons arrived for us to hang on the front of the PA and IPA sections. The lead aprons were removed and replaced with large lead impregnated plastic shields placed between the door and the tube on the PA section as well as the Driver section for the 45's. The aprons were removed from the IPA section and no shield installed, I guess we we safe from the 8C25N's and 4PR1000's.

The only published report I have seen is titled "Modeling and Measurement Of Electromagnetic Fields Near LORAN-C and Omega Stations" The report was prepared for Commandant (G-CSP) and dated 15 Jul 1987. The author was Paul C. Gailey from The EC Corporation of Oak Ridge Tennessee.

Hope this helps.

Boardstretcher,

That may have been the study I saw and referenced. It was about 88/89 time frame when I cited a study.

They did a study in Attu only a couple years ago. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but the advances in shielding since the mid 80's is probably signifigant.

A private google group, Loranimals has been created. Visit the link to gain access to the group.

You'll be able to read all correspondence as posted, as well as get emails concerning updates to this topic.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Joe

Joe,

While looking about for anything I had or could find, I ran across this site--I'd bet you have it already, but just in case:

http://www.jproc.ca/hyperbolic/index.html

Larry aka sindbad

Larry,

Yeah, I've been to Jerry's site before. It's pretty interesting.

Chuck Severance can be contacted about what he knows @ ccgvaldosta@aol.com and we have 3 mates who've now crossed the bar from the same LORSTA.

Dave,

Chuck and I have been talking extensively on this subject.

There is more information at the link I provided above for the private google group.

i have some info for you. No reports but it might help or add to your data collection.

i was stationed at LORSTA MIddletown from 92-end of 94. We were part of a study and had to wear radiation badges around. Never saw any final report but was told that the radiation existed but was acceptable due to the lead in the glass of the doors and no dangers were found.

But; I was also diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma in the left groin in 2002. I have only one family member (a great grandfather who died of multiple myloma) ever diagnosed with cancer besides myself. I have been around high power tubes most of my carreer. I am stil active duty.

If you have any questions you can email me at cgtaz@hotmail.com. I would certainly be interested in whatever info you have in support of any claims when I retire.

I am glad that I short toured at Kodiak. All I can say is that you could walk around the Lorsta with a flourescent bulb and it would light up in the TX room and the coupler room ! That is enough to make me nervous !

hardcore ...

Don't forget the non-ionizing radiation that is emitted from the transmitter. That too, has a standard, and the peak power at loran stations certainly exceed that standard.

I'd love to see them test stations today ... and include a test from inside the tower ... as some climb towers for corrective maintenance of the lighting systems. I'd make the report public accessible on the internet.

The 1980's report assessing the radiation studies had some flaws in their assumptions and certainly would fail the current standards. Even in the 90s, when there was talk of selling the beachfront property at LORSTA NA, it was pointed out that a report recommended not selling property near Loran-C emitters because of the hazzard of near-field exposure. Funny thing is the definition of near-field being 5 wavelengths and less would cause the CG to procure lots more property ... at a radius of 30,000 meters from the emmiter. Quite the area would be involved.

The 1980s report also indicated high non-ionizing radiation at the Communications Station [transmitter site] they tested. So, it's not just Loran. All emitters produce non-ionizing radiation. The important thing is to identify the hazzards. Emitters include that transceiver on the small boats on up. I seriously doubt there is a hazzard at those antennae ... but like President Reagan said ... Trust, but verify.

There are standards ... most notibly

IEEE Std C95.1™-2005

IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with
Respect to Human Exposure to Radio
Frequency Electromagnetic Fields,
3 kHz to 300 GHz

Joe,
I keep wondering if former Loranimals suffer from PTSD. I still notice when the lights flash and when the power goes out, want to run somewhere to start blink and check sync. Maybe this is something we could look into also. We were trained to react, how do we turn it off?

PTSD !

I will give you an affirmitive on that. I honestly still have nightmares everyonce in a while. Sometimes when my alarm clock goes off in the morning before I wake up I dream i am in the timer room and the klaxton is going off !

ET2 Keough
LORAN STATION KODIAK, AK
2003-2005

I don't know about the PTSD but I will tell you I do notice every blink of any lights, I do count every lightning strike to find the distance to the storm.

I never get the urge to run ... I gave that up a very long time ago, as I told the CWO who informed me an ET3 knocked him over I asked, what were you doing and the CWO stated "I was running for the alarm" ... I stopped him right then and said, let me guess, he used as a springboard at the turn from the snake pit to the timer room. I know that because when I was an ET3 I did the same thing to the CO who was running to the timer room for an alarm. It's their job to respond quickly, it's your job, and my job to calmly walk down after the alarm is silenced.

I told my charges at NA, when I was the OIC, to call me if they needed help. Then one morning I reviewed the logs and noticed they came down for a casualty and I inquired why they didn't call me .... the ET3 reminded me of what I said and told me they didn't need my help. I simply said very well and went back to reviewing the previous nights records.

I wish I still had the letter addressed to their loved ones that warned them of everything wierd that their son, and now daughter, might do, after returning from a tour isolated ...

not answering the phone when sitting right next to it as they are use to a klaxton ringer.

Jumping at the slightest flicker of the lights.

If anyone has that letter, drop me an email. I'd like to add it and other things to the Loran History web site. BTW, all the LORSTA Cape Sarichef Coasties will remember their infamous girlfriend at the bar, whose picture adorns the site.

Interesting thread. Like Joe, I was at many Loran stations, both A and C. San Salvador, Sandy Hook, Seneca, Lampedusa, Estartit and Johnston Atoll as far as I can recall. Haven’t had any signs yet but I am still young!

I still flinch when the lights dim. It took me about six years before I stopped launching myself out of my chair when the power went out. I’m feeling much better now…

Joe, I applied on Google and will jump on when approved.

TJ

Thank you, Chief, for your information.
I was one of those LORANIMALS ( Cape Blanco and Yap ). I left my last station in 1974 and have fought off cancer of the thyroid, left neck, chest lymphnode, both lungs and the prostate. I have too much to live for to yield to the disease.
Are there any published reports referencing concerns regarding radiation from the XMTRs, TMRs or AMPs?
Any substantial information would be helpful.

ET1 David Hans ( USCG Reserves )

David.T.Hans@uscg.mil