Christine Rowe

As a high school student, I was influenced by the words of John F, Kennedy - Äsk not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I had read books as a teen about nursing, and I decided that I wanted an education in both nursing and social work. I had to work my way through college, so it took longer for me to achieve my degrees. I worked in hospitals and nursing homes as a nurses aide, a Unit Secretary, a pharmacy technician. I worked in many different parts of hospitals including the ER, OR, high risk nursery, etc. I got my AA degree with an emphasis on sociology. My B.S. is in Health Education from Cal State Northridge. I began the MS in Public Health program, but due to family obligations, I was unable to complete my degree. Then the Northridge Earthquake hit which impacted my family greatly. For the past 6 1/2 years, I have been active in the cleanup of a local site called the Santa Susana Field Laboratory aka: Rocketdyne. There is a myth that there was a nuclear meltdown at this site that is now being compared to Fukushima. My research on this issue is contrary to that myth, and I have written a story that has been called: "Debunking the Meltdown Myth". While there still is contamination at this site today including hundreds of gallons of TCE below the surface in the groundwater, there is no known public health risk offsite at this time to the best of my knowledge. This is an ongoing investigation. Many people in my community attribute their cancers and other health issues to this site. I have read all of the health studies for the local community and for former workers at this site and other local sites, and I disagree with the interpretations of the activists that make statements that cancers and diseases are caused by living near the Santa Susana site today. I have worked with epidemiologists on this issue, and new health studies are being done to see if there is any correlation of cancer with Santa Susana or other local industrial sites. I believe that the fear of cancer causes stress - and stress is correlated with other diseases. It is my goal as a writer and blogger to help my community have the access to the scientific data and professional interpretations on issues of public health and public safety that are necessary to understand public health and public safety issues.