Re: "Scientific Evidence"

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Jerry,

> I wonder just what would constitute "scientific evidence". Suppose, for
> example, that a person received a small radiation exposure (<10 rem) at
> their work, and years later developed cancer. Since radiogenic cancer is
> generally  indistinguishable from other cancers how could radiation etiology
> be either proved or disproved?

A very good question, and, I don't have a very good answer to it 
either. I would venture to answer this in the following way. If the 
illness can't be distinguished based on either radiation exposure, as 
compared to other cancer causative factors, and, then one would haver 
to look to the statistics of the extremely large number of 
occupationally exposed workers, where the database is extensive, and 
look at the incidence of cancers (types and time on-set), look at the 
cumulative dose history, and, the rate of dose cumulation, and, look 
at the families history of cancer and other illness, and the 
individual's habits, such as drinking, smoking and work with other 
cancer causing agents, and then determine the "likelihood" of the 
cancer being caused by the exposure to radiation, compared to the 
other potential causes (similar to a court of law where the 
preponderance of the evidence is assessed.

I agree that it is almost impossible to categorically state the 
causative factor, in that it may be a combination of factors.

On the other hand, I have a personal problem simply stating that by 
only having worked in a radiation environment, and the onset of 
cancer, or other illness that can also be caused by radiation, that 
the cause was the radiation and that the individual receives 
financial compensation.

As I started this reply, I don't have a concrete answer, but have 
provided the best I can at this point.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
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Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

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