Re: report finds radium raises risk of bone cancer in men

["Gerald Nicholls" <Gerald.Nicholls@dep.state.nj.us>]

Tom Mohaupt wrote:



>This apparently was an ecological study. Isn't it amazing that with

all 

the heat Dr. Cohen has taken, most ecological studies are presented

with 

little or no opposition, especially if they have the "right" answer.



I'm not one of the authors of the report but might be considered as a

very interested, if distant, colleague of the authors.  It was one of my

questions to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services in

1997 that began the process of them conducting the study and eventually

reporting their work.



In 1996 and 1997, while supporting the NJDHSS's investigations of a

"childhood cancer cluster" in Dover Township, NJ, we found that Ra-224

was a significant contributor to the gross alpha activity of drinking

water samples from the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer.  This aquifer is the

major souce of drinking water for most of southern New Jersey. 

Subsequently, we asked the NJDHSS if they had seen any excess of

osteosarcomas in their Cancer Registry, since an increased risk of

osteosarcoma has been associated with exposure to Ra-224.  The data that

they found indicated that a study might beshould be conducted and they

did so.  The press release for the study can be found at:



www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dhss/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=1413 and the

report itself at www.nj.gov/health/eoh/radium.pdf 



There was no attempt to get " the 'right' answer" to ensure the

report's release or for any other reason.  A legitimate question was

asked, a study was conducted and a report written.  The data and the

report speak for themselves and should be judged accordingly.   As for

"opposition", I don't recall anything specific but there was a great

deal of discussion in and between the two departments prior to the

report being finalized.  



Gerald Nicholls

NJ Department of Environmental Protection 









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