Re: Sternglass, et al

["Conklin, Al" <awc0303@hub.doh.wa.gov>]

I also had direct dealings with Dr. Sternglass' "scientific" conclusions. 
A couple of years after Chernobyl, he reported that infant mortality in 
Washington state increased significantly in the two months immediately 
following the passage of the plume over the state. He used infant 
mortality reports, presenting his findings in a big conference, I think 
in Pittsburgh. A reporter from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote the 
story, which made the front page here. Everyone got excited.

There was a slight problem with his findings, however. My department 
(Health) is the agency that collects the infant mortality data. What he 
didn't take into consideration was when the deaths occurred. Most 
counties save their reports for a batch mailing. They are not reported, 
necessarily, in the month that they occur. We found that most of the 
deaths he reported actually occurred before Chernobyl even blew its lid. 
When I presented that side on the local news, I actually received an 
apology from the reporter who wrote the original story. She wrote a 
clarifying story the next day. The editors, however, didn't give it the 
visibility that the first story received. Still, it was something.

Allen W. Conklin
Manager, Air Emissions & Defense Waste
Division of Radiation Protection
Department of Health
7171 Cleanwater Lane, bldg 5
P.O. Box 47827
Olympia, WA  98504-7827
Work - (360) 236-3261
Fax    - (360) 236-2255
Internet :  awc0303@hub.doh.wa.gov

"He that thinketh by the INCH,
and talketh by the YARD,
needeth to be kickedeth by the FOOT."