Nexus - 1606 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

Included in this panel was Professor David Carpenter, There is some evidence that other childhood cancers may from the Department of Public Health at New York _ be related to EMF exposure, but not enough studies have University, and Dr David Savitz, one of America's most been done.’ respected epidemiologists. Professor Carpenter's Wertheimer and Leeper were the first to see a original scepticism was overturned when the magnetic field—breast cancer connection in their 1982 Wertheimer and Leeper study, originally heavily study of residential magnetic field exposures of adults* criticised as flawed, was extended and improved. It Even though this study looked at overall cancer risk in confirmed a significantly increased risk of leukaemia.’ adults and found an increase in excess cancers of the The reason why childhood leukaemia is studied is nervous system, uterus and lymphoid tumours, "they because the strongest evidence discovered a nearly threefold for a cancer is that the same ong 9 9 increase among women younger cancer is significantly elevated Today It Is quite widely han 55 who lived near power in children. ines, indicating that magnetic In 2001, leading occupational accepted that these ield exposure had accelerated medical epidemiologist Dr Sam EMFs can cause childhood development and growth o Milham, MPH, and E. M. g g breast cancer".’ Ossiander, of the Washington leukaemia. There Is some Breast tissue (along with State Department of Health, evidence that other oetal tissue) is the mos Olympia, researched the rise of ‘ sensitive tissue in the body and electrification in the UK and childhood cancers may be also the most sensitive to USA and concluded that the related to EMF exposure... artificial (man-made) radiation, childhood leukaemia peak of which is why any study into common acute lymphoblastic breast cancer has significan eukaemia was attributable to residential electrification: | ramifications for all of us. 75 per cent of all childhood acute lymphoplastic Breast cancer is a very-high-risk disease for women eukaemia and 60 per cent of all childhood leukaemia today. The contention that EMFs are a risk factor, le could be preventable.’ In 2007, Professor Michael Kundi alone a causative factor, in female breast cancer has been reported that up to 80 per cent of all cases of childhood __ heavily resisted. When individual cases of breast cancer eukaemia may be caused by exposure to these fields.’ or breast cancer clusters in women occur, various It was reported as early as the 1960s (Court-Brown and reproductive factors are also taken into account which Doll) that a new leukaemia-causing agent entered the UK can mask the role that EMFs play. and USA in the 1920s-1930s.° Today it is quite widely When, in 2001, three men in one small office accepted that these EMFs can cause childhood leukaemia. | developed breast cancer, Dr Sam Milham testified for tha wan in thie WAND aah ann 4 new that Today it is quite widely accepted that these leukaemia. ramifications for all of us. Breast cancer is a very-high-risk disease for women today. The contention that EMFs are a risk factor, let alone a causative factor, in female breast cancer has been heavily resisted. When individual cases of breast cancer or breast cancer clusters in women occur, various reproductive factors are also taken into account which can mask the role that EMFs play. When, in 2001, three men in one small office developed breast cancer, Dr Sam Milham testified for the men in their 2003 court case, arguing tha their cancers were caused, in part at least, by EMFs emanating from an electrical vault nex' to a basement office where the men worked." In 1997, Dr Thomas Erren, MPH, had noted that an association between ELF EMFs and breast cancer is supported in men."! In 2002, even the Washington, DC, lega counsel for electricity utilities worldwide conceded in a privileged attorney-clien communication that the stance of the power industry had to change.” Studies are normally conducted on exposed and unexposed subjects, but with these EMFs we are all exposed, making a definitive cause hard to prove. —_ Also, it would be unethical to expose people to high measurements of these EMFs to prove the case. People don't welcome having to change convenient lifestyles, and, when doubt and confusion are introduced, , the public is often quick to disregard the importance of data that makes changing ingrained habits a requirement. ( What's this eyePhone I keep hearing abet? j 20 * NEXUS EMFs can cause childhood There is some evidence that other childhood cancers may be related to EMF exposure... OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com