CDC Ignores Scientific Evidence in Public Health Cases

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CDC Ignores Scientific Evidence in Public Health Cases

Monday, May 05, 2008

by: Jo Hartley

| Key concepts: public health, CDC and cancer

http://www.naturalnews.com/023164.html

(NaturalNews) In many states, citizens and scientists are accusing

the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

of failing to make the connection between public health problems and

industrial sources of pollution -- even in the face of scientific

evidence.

National coverage of the toxic trailers housing situation in New

Orleans and also the suppression of a study on environmental hazards

in the Great Lakes has put attention on the agency. There are many

groups across the nation that are saying that these are just two

examples of cases that illuminate an agency pattern of interference

in the health data released to the public.

In many cases, evidence shows that the agency covered up important

public health information.

Recently, the nonprofit investigative journalism group, The Center

for Public Integrity, published a suppressed study by the ATSDR

called " Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in the

Twenty-Six U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern. " The report concludes

that over 9 million people living in 26 " areas of concern " have

elevated health risks associated with exposure to dioxins,

pesticides, lead, mercury, PCBs and six other poisonous chemicals.

These areas include the major metropolitan areas of Chicago,

Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee.

In many areas, scientists discovered low birth weights, high infant

mortality rates, high rates of premature births as well as high

rates of death from breast cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer.

The study was scheduled for release in July 2007. A few days before

its scheduled publication, however, the agency withdrew the study.

Similar events occurred last year in Pennsylvania. A study was

conducted to analyze the high rates of a very rare form of blood

cancer called Polycythemia Vera (PV).

The agency released an abstract in December 2007. It detailed the

rate of PV in three counties surrounding the Tamaqua borough. They

are at least 4.5 times higher than the national average. The

national PV rate is 0.9 in 100,000. The rate of confirmed cases in

the three Pennsylvania counties is more than 4 in 100,000. That

number is just a representation of patients who are registered with

the National Cancer Registry. They were tested for a genetic

mutation associated with PV for the study. When data from patients

who self-reported being diagnosed with PV is included, the rate

increases to approximately 15 times the national average.

The study connects the high PV rates to environmental influences.

The study shows that 18 of the 38 patients confirmed to have PV

lived within 13 miles of the MacAdoo Associates Superfund Site. They

lived in this area for more than five years between the years of

1975 and 1979 when large quantities of toxic chemicals were dumped

straight into old mine shafts. Included in those chemicals were

heavy metals and low levels of volatile organic compounds that were

determined to be contaminating the soil. A clean-up of the site has

been underwritten by the EPA.

Officials later stated that the results " were based on an ATSDR

analysis that was later determined to be inappropriate. " They

offered no definition of " inappropriate. " The statement negates a

link between any environmental factors and PV cases, contrary to the

data that eliminated other causes. It also stated that more analysis

was needed to " understand whether there is any linkage between PV

cases and where patients lived in the past. " That almost suggests

coincidence for the PV patients all living in the same vicinity.

The agency says it retracted the study because the authors used

analysis that was determined to be inadequate. The authors of the PV

study are now preparing to submit their work to scientific journals

for review.

The ATSDR's handling of public health studies of environmental

situations has proven negligent in every case investigated. It would

almost appear that the agency's purpose is to make sure no health

problem is detected.

About the author

Jo Hartley

Wife, Mother of 8, and Grandmother of 2

Jo is a 40 year old home educator who has always gravitated toward a

natural approach to life. She enjoys learning as much as possible

about just about anything!

http://www.loftymatters.com