News item of John Gofman

["Aaron Oakley" <aoakley@receptor.pharm.uwa.edu.au>]

RADSAFERS will be interested in
the following item. The original link:

http://www.lineone.net/express/00/01/10/news/n0540cancer-d.html

X-rays to blame for cancer and heart deaths, researcher claims

BY MAGGIE MORGAN

BRITISH experts yesterday denounced a scientist who claims most heart
disease and cancer deaths are caused by X-rays.

Professor John Gofman's conclusions were condemned as unscientific and
likely to incite misleading alarm for patients' safety.

Gofman, professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of
California, says up to 73 per cent of deaths from heart disease are due to
X-rays which cause tiny tumours to form in the arteries. He claims that
repeated low-level doses of radiation are responsible for up to 90 per cent
of cancer deaths.

In Britain, the National Radiological Protection Board said the assertions
were "alarming, unsound and misleading".

And a spokesman for the Department of Health said: "This research doesn't
seem to have been subjected to any peer review or to have appeared in any
reputable scientific journal, so it is very hard to see how it could have
the status of scientific fact."

Gofman, 81 - the first scientist to publicise the link between radiation and
cancer - said it was "insulting to the public" to dismiss his claims.

The professor sparked outrage in 1995 during a visit to Britain to promote a
TV documentary about his research into cancer deaths.But his latest research
into US national mortality statistics between 1940 and 1990 is the largest
ever conducted. He says it proves death rates from heart disease and cancer
are highest in areas where more X-rays are performed.
© Express Newspapers, 1999



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