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

[Peter Fear <fearp@mail.upstate.edu>]

----- Original Message -----

From: "Gerald Nicholls" <Gerald.Nicholls@dep.state.nj.us>

To: <ncohen12@comcast.net>; <tom.mohaupt@WRIGHT.EDU>

Cc: <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>; <Know_Nukes@yahoogroups.com>

Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 1:20 PM

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





> 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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