Cohen's Paradox

[FIELDRW@aol.com]

Dr. Cohen,

A week ago or so you stated, "We did not publish a joint paper, and they 
(Lubin, Smith and Field) never suggested that we do so. They (Lubin, Smith 
and Field) did not claim that my analyses failed to demonstrate that their 
proposed explanations for our discrepancy were very highly implausible."  

The purpose of my initial posting to the list was to inform you that we do 
think your analysis (or lack of analysis) failed to demonstrate that our 
proposed explanations were implausible. I assume you understand that now.  We 
published a Forum paper concerning your work, a rejoinder, and a follow-up 
letter in the journal.  I urge all interested Radsafers to read the articles 
regarding Cohen's Paradox published in the HPJ prior to commenting any 
further on this issue.  Dr. Cohen, as you have previously tried to do, I urge 
you to try to hire an epidemiologist to look at your data.  I have spent 
several hundred hours looking over your numerous papers on this topic, 
analyzing your data and responding to you in good faith.  I do not feel we 
are making any progress in these discussions and sometimes reasonable people 
must agree to disagree.  I think the time has come until another day. I have 
enjoyed my private email discussions with other Radsafers on various topics 
emanating from the public postings and look forward to continued private 
emails from interested Radsafers.    

I must agree with Dr. Mossman, the responsibility to resolve the LNT question 
resides with Cohen. Cohen must convince the scientific community that he is 
right and everybody else is wrong.    

I will resist responding any further publicly to the validity of your 
findings for now.  Please do not misinterpret my silence as agreement with 
your public postings.  Feel free to contact me directly if you are interested 
in writing a joint paper describing the strengths and limitations of ecologic 
and case-control studies for examining radon risk.  I am also open to any 
other questions (via mailto:bill-field@uiowa.edu) regarding any statement I 
have made on the listserv this past week.  Dr. Cohen, good luck on your quest!

Respectfully,  Bill Field

R. William Field, Ph.D.
College of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology
N222 Oakdale Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

319-335-4413 (work)
319-335-4748 (fax)
mailto:bill-field@uiowa.edu
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