Current News Events as posted on the Health Physics Society Website (URL links also provided)

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>]

5/7/02 • No Proven Link Between Radar and Cancer



http://newscenter.cancer.gov/pressreleases/radarKorea.html 



A press release by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that a 

long-term study of U.S. Navy veterans found little increased disease 

risk associated with exposure to radar. The report, "Radar Exposure 

Has Little Effect on Mortality of Korean War Veterans," is published 

in the May issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. 



The press release states that, in general, no consistent 

epidemiologic or laboratory associations of low-energy radiation with 

cancer have been shown. The release also states that "health effects 

of electromagnetic fields associated with power lines and household 

applicances are largely negative. Studies looking at the effect of 

cellular telephones on brain tumors and leukemia have found no 

increased risk."



5/1/02 • HHS Issues Final Rules to Assist Compensation of Nuclear 

Workers for Job-Related Cancers



http://hps.org/documents/nioshnews.pdf



The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today 

announced it has issued two final rules under which the department 

will provide scientific expertise to assist decision making under the 

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 

2000.



The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will use these regulations in 

processing claims by current and former employees of nuclear weapons 

production facilities and their survivors who seek compensation for 

certain cancers caused by occupational radiation exposures but who 

are not requesting compensation under the "Special Exposure Cohort" 

provisions of the Compensation Act. The Special Exposure Cohort 

includes workers who were employed at specific production or test 

sites designated in the Act.



The two final rules were published in the May 2 Federal Register. HPS 

members can get them here. 



NIOSH stated they also will be available online at the NIOSH Web 

site. Copies may be obtained by calling 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-

4674).



4/26/02 • FDA Comments on Whole-Body Screening



http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ct/



The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a statement 

regarding the new use of whole-body CT screening. "At this time the 

FDA knows of no data demonstrating that whole-body CT screening is 

effective in detecting any particular disease early enough for the 

disease to be managed, treated, or cured and advantageously spare a 

person at least some of the detriment associated with serious illness 

or premature death," the statement says. The FDA's Web page includes 

more detail on the screening techniques, other information about CT, 

and links to medical societies which do not recommend screening.



The cover story of the April Health Physics Society's Newsletter, 

"Whole Body CT Screening, To Scan or Not to Scan," also addressed 

this medical procedure.



4/24/02 • Society Releases New Position Statement and Background 

Information on Orphan Sources



http://hps.org/documents/orphansourcesposition.pdf



Paul Rohwer, Chair of the Scientific and Public Issues Committee, has 

released a new Position Statement titled "State and Federal 

Action is Needed for Better Control of Orphan Sources," and a paper 

providing Background Information in support of the Position 

Statement. 



The Position Statement explains that orphan sources are radioactive 

sources that have escaped institutional control, that is, sources 

that have been lost, stolen, or abandoned. The Health Physics Society 

believes that the orphan source problem is a radiation safety 

issue of high priority needing national and international attention. 

In the Position Statement the Society calls for changes to the 

federal and state regulatory framework dealing with orphan sources 

and calls for federal funding to support the regulatory initiatives 

needed to meet the Society's recommendations. The recommended 

regulatory changes include a more rigorous application of the 

justification for sources that may become orphan. The background 

information document provides details on the orphan source problem 

that supports the Society's position.



Position Statements of the Society are approved by the Scientific and 

Public Issues Committee (S&PIC), which consists of the three most 

immediate Past Presidents, the President, and the President-elect. 

Distribution of Position Statements is directed by the President. 

This statement was drafted for the S&PIC by HPS members Joel Lubenau 

and James Yusko.

   

-------------------------------------------------

Sandy Perle

Director, Technical

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service

ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92626



Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100  Extension 2306

Fax:(714) 668-3149



E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net

E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com



Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com



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