[ RadSafe ] NIOSH Publication: Study of cancer among INEEL Workers.

[Otto G. Raabe]

October 24, 2005

The phrase "not statistically significant" means that the findings were in 
the range expected by pure chance. Hence, there were no observed effects!

When 40 different causes of death are being studied, there will always be 
some types that are more prevalent and some types that are less prevalent 
by pure chance. It is implied that the more prevalent cancer cases are real 
effects that justify "further research"  even though they were "not 
statistically significant".

The important overall finding that is common for radiation workers is: 
"Mortality risks for most causes of death were lower among INEEL workers 
compared to the regional population."

Otto

**********************************************
Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
Center for Health & the Environment
(Street Address: Bldg. 3792, Old Davis Road)
University of California, Davis, CA 95616
E-Mail: ograabe at ucdavis.edu
Phone: (530) 752-7754   FAX: (530) 758-6140
***********************************************