RE: Exchanges with Lubin and with Field et al in HEALTH PHYSICS

["Eric Cowdrey" <ericc@mctrf.mb.ca>]

Dr. Cohen:

I have to say that I admire your determination to defend your work on radon
and lung cancer.  While I have nothing to suggest on this particular issue
at this time, I wonder if I might make a suggestion in another area.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is an important and topical public health
issue.  Most exposure is certainly from the sun, but a significant
contribution also results from the use of artificial tanning equipment.
While it appears to plausible that the use of such equipment may present a
risk of melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer), the epidemiological
evidence to date is not yet conclusive.  There have been about 20 studies
that sought to determine a relationship, but many concerns have been voiced
about the methodology used in the studies (like small sample sizes, failure
to consider possible confounding factors, etc.).  In view of the fact that
skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer, and the incidence
appears to be increasing year on year, I think that greater effort to
understand the cause is well justified.

May I suggest, therefore, that you consider spending some of your time on
this matter, with a particular focus on the melanoma/tanning bed risk?  I
would be pleased to provide you with more information on the epidemiological
work, should you wish.

For information, the Health Physics Society has recently issued a Position
Statement on Ultraviolet Radiation.  This can be viewed on their website:

http://www.hps.org/documents/ultravioletradiation.pdf



**************************************************************

Eric Cowdrey
Radiation Protection Officer
Department of Medical Physics
Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation
100 Olivia Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba    R3E 0V9
CANADA

Tel (204) 787-2166
Fax (204) 775-1684
e-mail ericc@mctrf.mb.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
[mailto:radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu]On Behalf Of Bernard L Cohen
Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 9:28 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Exchanges with Lubin and with Field et al in HEALTH PHYSICS



 	Early in 1998, I accidently found out that papers were to be
published in Health Physics by Lubin and by Field et al critiquing my
study of the radon vs lung cancer relationship among U.S. Counties as a
test of the linear-no threshold theory, originally published in the Feb
1995 issue of Health Physics. I asked the Editor if I could reply to these
critiques, and he assented under the condition that my replies be received
within 2 weeks and Lubin and Field et al would be given a Rejoinder in the
same issue. All of these were published in the July 1998 issue.
	I felt that the Rejoinders raised new issues and submitted a
response to these. The Editor, after some urging, agreed to publish my
response with the understanding that Lubin and Field et al would be given
an opportunity to reply to that response, and that there would be no
further publications on the exchange. My response was published in the
April 1999 issue, and their replies recently appeared in the September
1999 issue. I feel that their replies were highly misleading and am
frustrated by not having an opportunity to explain why.
	As an outlet for my frustration, I would be happy to explain these
matters in  brief notes on Radsafe if people are interested, or if people
have questions they might transmit thru Radsafe, I would be delighted to
respond. Any other suggestions would be most welcome.


Bernard L. Cohen
Physics Dept.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Tel: (412)624-9245
Fax: (412)624-9163
e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu


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