IN FOCUS Discussion: Funding for Downwinders via abc4.com

by: Rosie Nguyen, Erik Nielsen

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) – According to the University of Utah Health, a “downwinder” is a person who was exposed or presumed to be exposed to radiation from the explosion of nuclear devices at the federal Nevada Test Site. These nuclear tests took place in the 1950s and 1960s.

The radioactive materials released by these tests are called “fallout.” Winds carried the fallout hundreds of miles away from the test site. People living in the downwind area at the time of testing were exposed to varying levels of radiation. We now know that exposure to radioactive fallout may lead to certain types of cancer.

Mary Dickson, who is a downwinder that grew up in Salt Lake City, joined ABC4’s Rosie Nguyen on the CW30 News at 7 p.m. for an IN FOCUS discussion about the personal impact the nuclear testing had on her life and those around her. She now advocates for U.S. radioactive fallout victims as her life’s work — writing plays, stories, articles, and even gave a speech in Japan about her experiences.

Former U.S. Representative Jim Matheson shared how his family was impacted by the nuclear testing, the fight at the federal level to get compensation for downwinders, and whether he has concerns that this issue will be lost with time with a small number of survivors remaining.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) is set to expire next year. But there is a new piece of legislation to extend and expand the compensation for people who were exposed to radioactive fallout from nuclear testing in the 1950s. Policy Analyst Steve Erickson discussed the nuts and bolts of RECA, whether he felt that past compensation has been adequate, and what he hopes to see with future legislation.

Read more at IN FOCUS Discussion: Funding for Downwinders

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