Six months after the accident, a strange turn of events occurred for me. I was notified by the Civil Service Commission of a potential job opportunity in the Division of Epidemiological Research at the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
I was fortunate to be hired as a Science Research Associate for The Three Mile Island Pregnancy Outcome Study. This study was funded by the federal government for two years and was a fascinating position. I spent my days interviewing families regarding pregnancy outcome, who also shared their thoughts, concerns, fears, and anecdotal experiences, in relation to the nuclear accident.
Many reported unusual anomalies that were occurring in their farm, domestic, and exotic animals. Others reported an increase in cancer diagnoses among family members, and an increased incidence of early pregnancy loss among friends and family. While their reports were not scientific, they were representative of the wide range of people and personal experiences in the 10 mile radius of the nuclear power plant.
The diversity in this sample of people was notable across many domains. The health consequences of potential radiation exposure must be assessed using longitudinal research methods, as many of the cumulative effects of radiation exposure take many years to manifest in quantifiable, negative health outcomes. An equally important study could have investigated the qualitative aspects of having lived through the TMI Accident and how that experience impacted health outcomes in both negative and positive ways.
Michelle