Question: EMF Researcher Made Up Data, ORI Says (Science, 2 July, 1999)

["Bjorn Cedervall" <bcradsafers@HOTMAIL.COM>]

To my surprise there was no response to my question about three weeks ago 

regarding the EMF affair in 1999. As I interpret the case:



The story goes back to 1992-93 when two papers by R. Liburdy were published. 

These "showed" that EMFs increase the flow of calcium through the membranes 

of lymphocytes - and in turn switching genes on and off and thereby perhaps 

played a role in cell division.



A panel of four lab scientists investigated the case in 1995 and stated: 

"These actions fall within the definition of scientific misconduct". This 

was based on "Liburdy's claims that EMF causes cellular effects related to 

calcium signaling (in three figures in the two articles in FEBS Letters & 

Ann. NY Acad. Sci. respectively) are not supported by the primary data." The 

panel had concluded that Liburdy "deliberately created 'artificial 

data'...in order to mislead the reader." The Federal (U.S.) Office of 

Research Integrity (ORI) made a formal review starting in 1997. The ORI 

came, I understand, to a similar conclusion as the first panel group.



OK - so this is the approximate story - some 5-6 newspaper articles can be 

found in the www.junkscience.com search system and a few comments in the 

Radsafers archives (July-August 1999).



Now, my question is: Is there any formal statement from the Lawrence 

Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) regarding the case? Something that can 

be found on a website or elsewhere. What is the overall formal status?



Two of the critical graphs in FEBS were formally retracted in Vol. 478 

(2000:304). In this retraction Liburdy writes "I admit no wrongdoing".

I haven't seen a parallel for Ann. NY Acad. Sci.



If any of the above is incorrect or should be modified - please comment.



Bjorn Cedervall    bcradsafers@hotmail.com





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