BUCHANAN – Author Joseph Mangano, whose article pointing to a greater instance of thyroid cancer in counties surrounding the Indian Point nuclear power plants has been published in the International Journal of Health Services, maintains that cancer was caused by radiation from those facilities.

Mangano said from 2001 to 2005, the instance of thyroid cancer in those adjacent counties was twice as high as the rest of the country. And that is why, he said, Indian Point should be shut down.

“Indian Point shouldn’t be allowed to keep unless it proves that it’s safe and it should only address issues such as this,” he said.

But, Indian Point spokesman Jerry Nappi said Mangano’s research has been labeled “junk science” and has been discredited by many “legitimate” scientists.

“In terms of Indian Point and all nuclear power plants, no responsible public health agency has ever suggested any link between nuclear power and thyroid cancer because there is no cause and effect there,” he said.

Paul Steidler, spokesman with New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance, a pro-Indian Point organization, said organizations like the National Cancer Institute, Columbia University and the New York State Department of Health have closely monitored nuclear power plants for any health impact that they may have on workers or surrounding communities. “They have consistently and unequivocally found that there is no basis for claims by anti-nuclear activists like the ones made (Monday) by the Radio and Public Health Project.”