University cancer scare debunked
Two-year study finds no problem at Susquehanna
Published January 22, 2009 11:48 pm -
The state Department of Health has given Susquehanna University and its environs a clean bill of health after completing its largest investigation ever, a two-year probe into reports of a high incidence of cancer among former students.By Rick Dandes The Daily Item
SELINSGROVE -- The state Department of Health has given Susquehanna University and its environs a clean bill of health after completing its largest investigation ever, a two-year probe into reports of a high incidence of cancer among former students.
The "Susquehanna University Study," released Thursday evening, researched the health of 9,610 alumni over a period spanning 1985 to 2004. It concluded that "although the number of cancers detected exceeded the expected number, there is no evidence that this results from an environmental exposure that occurred at the university or that it is associated with university attendance."
The report confirms earlier findings by the state Department of Environmental Protection that ruled out environmental threats to student health.
"Thanks to the exhaustive work by two state agencies, we now know that nothing in the Selinsgrove environment is harming our students, past or present," said Susquehanna University President L. Jay Lemons. "We can now speak with greater confidence and certainty than any other university in the nation about the safety of our environment."
Concerns about a possible cancer cluster at Susquehanna surfaced in 2007, when the parents of students who developed cancer from 1997 to 2005 suggested that environmental contamination might have caused the disease. Subsequent testing focused on an off-campus Orange Street apartment building known as the Warehouse, which was the residence for three athletes diagnosed with cancer.
DEP tested soil and groundwater in an area near the Warehouse and found "no evidence of environmental contamination."
The follow-up Department of Health study measured the reported number of cancer cases among alumni against the number of cases for the general population of Pennsylvania.
Two types of cancer, melanoma and testicular, were more prevalent in Susquehanna alumni, but according to the report, they have no known association with environmental factors.
Melanoma and testicular cancer are on the rise in Pennsylvania and the country, said Paul Chrostowski, a Maryland-based environmental health engineer and toxicologist who was quoted in a statement released by the university.
They are also more prevalent in white populations. For the period in question, 90 percent or more of Susquehanna's alumni were white, compared with 82 percent in Pennsylvania.
"Further, these cancers are more prevalent in young people," Chrostowski said. "And one might expect higher recorded incidents among an educated population because it is more likely to have access to health care screening and detection."
The report concludes by stating the importance of prevention and early diagnosis: "Several of the cancers identified in this study are highly preventable, with relatively simple and straightforward measures like sun block for malignant melanoma and human papilloma virus vaccine for cervical cancer. Others have highly effective screening tests that can find cancer at an early and treatable stage. Examples include pap smears for cervical cancer and mammography for breast cancer."
Approximately 2,000 students attend Susquehanna University.
E-mail comments to rdandes@dailyitem.com
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Rick Dandes The Daily Item
http://www.blogger.com/
Hi Rick
I have just read your story about the cancer investigation at Susquehanna University and it seems that both of the environmental investigations have been faulty, This is obvious because of this statement by the investigators: "Two types of cancer, melanoma and testicular, were more prevalent in Susquehanna alumni, but according to the report, they have no known association with environmental factors". This statement is incorrect and any qualified environmental investigator should know this!
Melanoma has been linked through scientific research to exposure of electro magnetic radiation, and in particular to FM radio broadcasting. I have attached a document titled Melanoma Incidence and (FM) Frequency Modulation Broadcasting.
Testicular cancer has been linked to electro magnetic radiation and in particular radar used by police officers. I have attached a document titled Occupational Exposure of Police Officers to Microwave Radiation From Traffic Radar Devices.
Both of these cancers are known to be caused by environmental factors involving electro magnetic radiation and that is where the investigation should have centered. You may want to ask: did the investigators consider electro magnetic radiation as a cause of these cancers and did they investigate the situation professionally?
A person knowledgeable about the adverse health effect of electro magnetic radiation, would look at the risk factors that students may be exposing themselves. I would immediately suspect laptop computers that were being used by students at that time. I would want to know if those devices were used on the victims laps or if they were used close to the body. There are two problems caused with close usage.
(1.) Laptop computers produce strong electrical and electro magnetic fields which could damage delicate areas of the body such as testicles.
(2.) Laptop computers produce strong amounts of electro magnetic radiation from the computer electronics and also from any wireless device that may be used by the computer. This radiation is likely to harm body areas closest to the computer but could also harm other areas of the body.
A qualified investigator should have checked whether WiFi systems were being used at the University or at the students residences and measured the power of the microwave radiation they emit. This is another strong source of radiation linked to both of these cancers. The investigation should also have examined whether the University or the residences have cell phone antennas or broadcasting antennas nearby that expose the students to a high amount of microwave radiation. I have attached a document titled, Five Studies which will demonstrate the extreme danger of being exposed to these antennas. You should note that all these adverse health effects occurred at exposure levels which are many times below current government safety levels.
Another consideration for any qualified environment investigator is to check at the University or the residences for any strong exposure of electrical and electro magnetic fields from wiring, electrical devices and electrical transformers. The investigator should also have checked and measured 'dirty electricity' or excessive harmonics on the electrical system at the university and residences. This is another cause of serious adverse health effects. For much further scientific information about the adverse health effects of electro magnetic radiation, please see the Bio Initiative Report http://www.blogger.com/ .
If the reported investigators have failed to conduct a thorough investigation of electro magnetic dangers, their results should be discarded and a further investigation should be ordered. A qualified expert in the field of electro magnetic fields and with specialized knowledge about harm that EMFs may cause to health, should be employed.
Yours sincerely
Martin Weatherall
Director WEEP - Wireless Electrical and Electromagnetic Pollution.
http://www.blogger.com/
