report finds radium raises risk of bone cancer in men

[Norm Cohen <ncohen12@comcast.net>]

thought you'd find this interesting:



norm





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REPORT FINDS RADIUM RAISES RISK OF BONE CANCER IN MEN



Date: 030921

From: http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/



Associated Press, 9/19/03



 Trenton - Men in sections of the southern and central parts of the

state where levels of radium in the drinking water exceed federal

standards have a slightly higher risk of getting a rare type of bone

cancer, health officials said Friday.



 The state Department of Health and Senior Services released the

findings of a study that also found that 17 water systems and

subsystems in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester,

Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties had levels of

radium that exceeded standards for radiological contamination.



 The report said the risk of developing osteosarcoma, a rare type of

bone cancer, is three times higher for men exposed to radium in

drinking water over a long period of time. Osteosarcoma occurs in only

three people per million annually on average in New Jersey.



 The rate found in the study was highest in men age 25 and over. There

was no increased risk among females found by the study.



 State health officials said the findings are in line with previous

studies conducted in other parts of the United States and Canada.



 Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive element found in ground

water throughout the United States. It is found in New Jersey,

particularly beneath the central and southern parts of the state.



 The New Jersey study reviewed cases of osteosarcoma diagnosed from

1979-98 and water tested from 1997-2000.



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(c) 2003 NJ.com. All Rights Reserved.



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