RE: Hormesis - Ever enough evidence for approval of authorities?

[howard long <hflong@pacbell.net>]

John and Jim make my point:

Conflict of interest blocks valid outcome publication from even the most elaborate study (like WHI or NSWS). 

 

In better study of Taiwan apt. data (pushed by Luan), perhaps

we should insist on advocates for both sides (for and against hormesis) being represented and minority viewpoints published, as in US Supreme Court decisions.

 

I favor informed individuals choosing freely: CT or no CT, use radon mine for arthritis or not, gamma source in bed to prevent cancer or not.  

 

Howard Long



John Jacobus <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

Jim, 

I think you have clearly laid out the issues of why a

detailed study needs to be done. Like you, I am at a

loss to understand why this kind of study has not been

done. Why has the Taiwanese health authorites not

taken this on? 



--- "Muckerheide, James" wrote:



> Hi Howard,

> 

> I guess I haven't made myself clear. Your 'case' re

> the WHI is irrelevant.

> That is an acutal study. I don't care about results

> or whether it is good or

> bad.

> 

> But this problem has been addressed repeatedly, and

> I don't know why it isn't

> clearly understood:

> 

> We have no formal data in Taiwan. We don't know how

> many cancer cases there

> are, back to 198x? 1983? 2- or 5- or 10-year lag? 

> 

> Even if we did, we don't know the size or age of the

> group? Or the age of

> the cancer cases. If the dramatic difference holds

> up, other confounding

> factors would likely be trivial, but they need to be

> addressed in any event.

> We have no actual data. 

> 

> We do have an indication that there is a benefit

> using the gross data from

> media reports. This is actually more important as a

> public challenge to the

> responsible authorities to demonstrate that they are

> suppressing the relevant

> data (including the HPS LNT-committed leadership?

> using John Boice as an

> apologist), for the failure to expect/demand that

> the relevant data be

> evaluated. The communication on this by

> knowledgeable HPS members seems to

> have been inadequate to document the culpability of

> the HPS leadership in

> suppressing the study of the taiwan data.

> 

> Regards, Jim

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: owner-rad-sci-l@WPI.EDU on behalf of howard

> long

> Sent: Thu 11/18/2004 12:45 AM

> To: Muckerheide, James; rad-sci-l@WPI.EDU

> Cc: crispy_bird@yahoo.com

> Subject: RE: Hormesis - Ever enough evidence for

> approval of authorities?

> 

> Jim, I am cynical about what you suggest as adequate

> "study".

> Even the Women's Health Initiative (multiple univ.

> placebo controlled

> "study") has been misapplied.