Re: Reqeust for Kerala Control Data

["Dr. M. Pillay -DDHK Nuclear Medicine" <pillay@ngoh.azr.nl>]

> Datum verzending: Wed, 25 Oct 95 08:33:50 -0500
> Stuur antw. aan:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> Van:              hodgdon@homer.yankee.com (hodgdon@yankee.com)
> Aan:              Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Onderwerp:        Reqeust for Kerala Control Data

> Response to R. Kathren and J. Muckerheide on linear hypothesis.
> 
> RK> . . . in the Kerala State of India, an increased incidence of
>   > Down's syndrome and chromosome aberrations has been reported.  
> 
> JM> I'm intrigued by the stretch that goes into trying to demonstrate effects in
>   > the face of much more substantial data that shows no or negative effects. 
> 
> The theory is: "less than 5 rem has no effect".
> 
> Either:
>  1. the theory is disproved by Kerala data, or
>  2. the theory is correct and the Kerala data have a non-radiation cause.
> 
> JM argues:
> 
> JM> "Nobel Laureate Dr. Rosalyn Yalow reports . . .
>   > . . . The lack of Down's syndrome in the particular town used as a
>   > control population is a statistical small-number aberration."
> 
> I am not convinced by a Nobel judgement.  I will be convinced if a 
> non-radiation difference between Kerala and control can be shown to 
> have caused the 12 to 0 cases.  Does such data exist?  Is there a
> non-radiation difference to explain the Kerala:control difference in 
> Down Syndrome?
> 
> Or, is this to be left unresolved?
> 
> regards,
> 
> Andrew Hodgdon
> hodgdon@yankee.com
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
 Should the theory " ....5 rem has no effect" not read 
                   ".... 5 rem has no measurable effect" ?

Mike Pillay
pillay@ngoh.azr.nl