[ RadSafe ] Scientists discover possible radiation and heartdisease link

[John Jacobus]

Grant,
  I believe that the increased death rate to Chernobyl worker was probably due to declining economic opportunites with the break up of the Soviet Union, lack of health, care, high rates of alcohol consumption and smoking.  I am not sure if heart disease was studied in the Chernobyl workers per se.  

"NIXON, Grant" <Grant.NIXON at mdsinc.com> wrote:
        v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}        st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }                I meant lower income jobs which, in turn, are associated with the risk factors you mention. Can anyone speak to the rigor applied to the sampling statistics and to the dose levels of the groups? I find that, far too often, there is a serious problem with the sampling.
   
  However, I recall hearing that that some of the workers at Chernobyl died of heart attacks in the months and years following their elevated exposures. I do not know if this was established formally / scientifically in the literature or not.
   
  Grant
   
    Grant I. Nixon, Ph.D., P.Phys.
  Science Specialist (Physics)
  Radiation Applications Development Team
  Engineering, Development & Compliance
  MDS Nordion
  447 March Road
  Ottawa, ON  K2K 1X8
  Canada
   
  Tel: +1 613 592 3400 ext. 2869
  Fax: +1 613 591 7423

      
---------------------------------
  
  From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 12:32 PM
To: NIXON, Grant; howard long; John R Johnson; Fred Dawson; srp-uk at yahoogroups.com
Cc: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Scientists discover possible radiation and heartdisease link

   
    Grant,

    By "lower socio-economic standing" do you mean unable to afford health care?  Hard-drinking? Smoking?

     

    One would think that there factors are controlled for, but maybe not by rigorous multi-regression analyzes.

"NIXON, Grant" <Grant.NIXON at mdsinc.com> wrote:

    I would suspect that, on average, the radiation workers who received the
highest doses were from a lower socio-economic standing (e.g., the
decontamination workers). Socio-economics (read lifestyle) is a
well-established indicator of one's propensity for heart disease and
shorter lifespan and I would wager that this is likely THE causal factor
behind the finding rather that dose level which is likely only a symptom
of the causal factor.

Grant

Grant I. Nixon, Ph.D., P.Phys.
Science Specialist / Senior Radiation Physicist
Radiation Applications Development Team
Engineering, Development & Compliance
MDS Nordion
447 March Road
Ottawa, ON K2K 1X8
Canada

Tel: +1 613 592 3400 ext. 2869
Fax: +1 613 591 7423




+++++++++++++++++++
"Part of human nature resents change, loves equilibrium, while another part welcomes novelty, loves the excitement of disequilibrium. There is no formula for the resolution of this tug-of-war, but it is obvious  that absolute surrender to either of them invites disaster."
-J. Bartlet Brebner 

-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com
       
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.