STAR Allegations of Excess Cancer Occurences on Long Island

[Andy Hull <hull@mail.sep.bnl.gov>]

More on STAR's propaganda:

 diligent reader of East End Newspapers provided the following item,
together with the observation: "Mr. Jaroff took some time off, but he seems
to be back again."

Easthampton Independent - 2/3/99

LETTERS

East Hampton
January 29, 1999
To The Editor:

In her story about political opposition to Millstone, Debbie Tuma writes
that Helen Caldicott "discussed the medical issue of this plant being so
close to the East End, which has some of the highest rates of cancer in the
country."

Had Ms. Tuma checked with the Suffolk County Health Department and the New
York State Cancer Registry instead of buying, practically word for word,
the dishonest cancer claims being bandied about by Standing for Truth About
Radiation, she might have learned the following: Suffolk County stands only
15th in breast cancer rates among New York State counties, let alone those
in other states.

Of the 11 New York counties with over 100,000 people under the age of 20,
Suffolk has the lowest rate of rhabdomysarcoma, the rare childhood cancer
that STAR claims flourishes here.

Suffolk County's rate of leukemia, the cancer that usually appears first
upon exposure to excessive radiation, is at or below the national level.
Next time, Ms. Tuma should ask Dr. Caldicott to specify which cancer rates
here are the highest in the country, and to document her claims. Then
Debbie should check those claims with the agencies whose business it is to
know these things.

LEON JAROFF

------

Note: Mr. Jaroff, a resident of East Hampton, has been diligent in trying
to unmask STAR for what they are.  He is a writer on nuclear and medical
topics and a contributor to TIME.  


Andy Hull
BNL
Upton NY 11973
Ph:  516-344-4210
e-mail: hull@mail.sep.bnl.gov


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