ANXIETY LEVELS HIGH AMONG NEIGHBORS.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

More than 200 neighbors of Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory listened Thursday evening to a study on the health effects of radiation on the facility's workers and expressed concern about the impact on their own communities.

The report by UCLA scientists and state health officials concentrated on workers and had no bearing on residents living near the lab.

But neighbors of the facility were worried just the same.

``We want to know if it's still hazardous,'' said Arlene Malin of Chatsworth, whose husband died of leukemia in 1996.

Malin's next-door neighbor Chris Overin attended because her husband died of cancer in 1997.

``It's a weird coincidence,'' she said of the deaths. ``It's too late for us. Our husbands are already gone. But we want to know more.''

Ron and Susan Tansky of Studio City are considering buying real estate in Thousand Oaks. Before they do so, they said they wanted to know how far-ranging the effects of radiation might be.

``The study warrants a close look at it. I mean, come on,'' Susan Tansky said.

Dave Boyden of Los Angeles also is considering moving to Simi Valley. But he's concerned about the perception of the city following the release of the study.

Laurie Danielsen of Simi Valley said she attended the public hearing because her father who worked for Rocketdyne from 1958 to 1962 died of cancer.

``I want to see what parameters they used (for the study). I want to know if this is valid,'' she said.

A 48-year-old Rocketdyne worker from Chatsworth declined to give his name, but his concern was evident.

``I've seen a lot of guys I work with die. And it bothers me. I'm concerned about my health. I'm the next in line,'' he said.

Dan Hirsch, co-chairman of an advisory committee that oversaw the UCLA study released this week, told the crowd at the Simi Valley Radisson Hotel that a larger community study should be done if ``feasible and scientifically credible.''

Earlier in the day, interviews with residents in the area surrounding the lab had mixed feelings about the report.

``I'm not concerned, I've lived here for nearly 30 years - healthy as can be,'' said Terry MacAdam, 57, a real estate agent who lives on Bell Canyon Road.

Others said they were worried.

``It makes me nervous, definitely,'' said Susan McMurray, who was playing with her 16-month-old son at Lazy J Ranch Park in West Hills on Thursday.

McMurray said she didn't know a lot about the Rocketdyne facility, but plans to follow the issue from now on.

Dana Gonzales, 33, who owns two houses in Chatsworth, both just a few hundred yards from the road that leads to Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory, said he's lived in the hilly neighborhood all his life.

Gonzales said when he bought his latest house he had to sign papers to pledge he knew about the cleanup program that started in 1989.

Gonzales said he is concerned about the study.

``I've got to say, it's not going to help my situation so much if I want to sell a house or something,'' Gonzales said.