Shorts

briefed by Jule Klotter

Townsend Letter Tops Survey

Townsend Letter is the information source most frequently cited by 32 US complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners in a survey conducted by William Cassady. Cassady performed the survey as part of a school assignment toward his communications degree at the University of Missouri. For his US survey, Cassady queried practitioners listed on the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) and International College of Integrative Medicine (ICIM) websites. He asked for “the most fruitful sources of information for staying abreast of new methods, scientific advances, and products within your field.” Thirty-two practitioners responded. Most used multiple information sources.

Twenty-seven of the 32 respondents reported using websites to stay abreast of new advances and information. The top three websites were www.acamnet.org (ACAM), www.icimed.com (ICIM), and www.functionalmedicine.org (Institute for Functional Medicine). (Since Cassady formed his query list from ACAM and ICIM members, the results here may not be too surprising.)

Conferences and seminars were the second most popular information source, used by 18 of 32. ACAM topped the list for conferences with eight mentions. Five respondents reported conferences as an information source without specifying which conference(s). American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Academy of Environmental Medicine, iMosaic, and International College of Integrative Medicine conferences tied for third place with three mentions each.

Magazines and journals (monthly frequency or less) came in third, cited by 17 of 32. Newsletters and blogs, published weekly or daily, were mentioned by nine respondents. Dr. Jonathan Wright’s monthly newsletter Nutrition & Healing Newsletter was mentioned six times among the surveyed. Alternative Medicine Review (www.thorne.com) and Life Extension Magazine each appeared five times. Townsend Letter (misfiled under weekly/daily newsletters) was cited 11 times, surpassing all other individually cited sources.

Cassady told me by e-mail that he also tabulated information source data for UK MDs (n = 40), UK homeopaths (n = 21), and UK Osteopaths (n = 63). He found some overlap between US and UK practitioners. Specifically, practitioners in both countries mentioned What Doctors Don’t Tell You, Dr. Joseph Mercola’s blog, and Life Extension Magazine. Townsend Letter, however, was not mentioned by UK respondents. They don’t know what they’re missing! William Cassady’s complete US survey is online at www.townsendletter.com.

Electromagnetic Radiation

and the Precautionary Principle

In November 2009, the Seletun (Norway) Scientific Panel joined a growing list of independent scientific panels warning of potentially adverse health effects due to “unprecedented global exposures to artificial electromagnetic fields (EMF).” Electric power, wireless technologies, and radar all create artificial electromagnetic fields. While life on Earth has evolved in the presence of electromagnetic fields, this natural level is far, far less than what life is exposed to now. Current safety limits only acknowledge thermal (heat) effects. Multiple laboratory studies have shown that low-intensity EMF levels, well below current exposure limits, affect cell function. Studies have linked EMF exposure to increased cancer risk; neurological diseases; impaired immune function; impaired fertility; sleep disruption; and changes in cognition, behavior, and mood. Moreover, “… the combined effects of chemical toxins and EMF together is greater than either exposure alone,” the panel states. The scientific panel urges government regulators to make decisions based on “prudent public health planning principles rather than [waiting for] scientific certainty of effect (causal evidence).”

European Union law recognizes the precautionary principle, which favors protecting public health in the face of scientific uncertainty. The precautionary principle was the guiding principle for the scientifically unproven and unpopular decision to halt all shipments of cattle, beef, and beef products from the UK to prevent the spread of Gut. 1987 November; 28(11): 1500–1504.bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). In the case of EMF exposure, however, the EU has failed to follow the cautious path. Mats Dämvik and Olle Johansson of Sweden state, “The scientists, representing both the World Health Organization and the European Commission, do not have at all the precautionary principle in mind when they report on health risks.” Instead of informing policymakers about the uncertainties of EMF safety and risk, scientists in regulatory agencies tend to ignore troublesome research and make safety recommendations based on incomplete data. “Risk assessments are published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR),” explain Dämvik and Johansson. “This reporting tends to be very similar, which is a consequence of the flow of information from all these bodies being completely controlled by a few experts. For obvious reasons, those people are highly exposed to efforts by industry lobbyists and their links with industry have often been criticized.” Dämvik and Johansson would like EU policy makers to examine EMF exposure in the light of the precautionary principle and public health. “Judging what is an ‘acceptable’ level of risk for society is an eminently political responsibility,” they say. It should not the job of a few scientists on lobby-exposed panels.

Although the Seletun Scientific Panel supports applying the precautionary principle to EMF use, the panel’s recommendations focus on ways to fill in the gaps in scientific knowledge. General recommendations from the Seletun Scientific Panel include establishing an open-access international registry to track time-trends in incidence and mortality for cancers and neurological and immune diseases, paying special attention to children and the electromagnetic sensitive populations. People who work in environments with wireless exposures can also provide needed information about EMF effects on health. In addition to tracking disease incidence, the panel would like to see epidemiological studies that track the effects of interventions designed to reduce EMF exposures and more funding for studies that look at EMF effect on biological markers in cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and blood. Such studies would pinpoint DNA damage and changes in immune function and the nervous system. More knowledge is needed about the effects of low exposure levels at diverse modulations, frequencies, intensities, duration, and other variables.

Since industry and governments are ignoring scientific concerns about safety, individuals must rely on themselves to reduce negative exposures. The Seletun Panel offers several recommendations. The first and most basic is keep mobile/cell phones away from the head and body when in use; use a wired headset, “preferably with hollow-tube segments,” to talk on the phone. Also, the panel says to keep all mobile (cell) phones and hand-held computers turned off when carrying them in a pocket or clipped onto a belt. Pregnant women and children of any age should avoid using mobile (cell) and cordless phones and hand-held computers. Scientific evidence indicates that wireless technology of any kind – whether the Internet, baby monitors, security systems, or Bluetooth – “produce unnecessary and potentially harmful EMF exposures.” Schools should rely on land-line connections for Internet access instead of exposing children to wireless connections. More information about the Seletun Scientific Panel is available at www.electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/the-seletun-statement.

Industry and the media continually downplay safety concerns about wireless technology, but they do so without scientific backing. Meanwhile, independent scientists without industry ties have found laboratory evidence that EMFs at very low levels negatively affect cellular function. How this translates into real-world health effects is still unknown.

Dämvik M, Johansson O. Health risk assessment of electromagnetic fields: a conflict between the precautionary principle and environmental medicine methodology. Rev Environ Health. 2010;25(4). Available at: http://www.wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/Damvik+Johansson.pdf. Accessed May 5, 2011.

Fragopoulou A, Grigoriev Y, Johansson O, Margaritis LH, Morgan L, Richter E, Sage C. Scientific panel on electromagnetic field health risks: consensus points, recommendations, and rationales. Rev Environ Health. 2010;25(4). Available at: www.pdfcast.org/pdf/the-meeting-in-seletun-emfs-health-risks. Accessed May 5, 2011.

Testing for Environmental Metal Exposure

A 2010 study, conducted by E. Blaurock-Busch, PhD, and colleagues, looked at the use of hair mineral analysis and urine challenge/provocation test results as a means of confirming or refuting environmental metal exposure. The study involved 149 physically and/or mentally challenged patients at Baba Farid Centre at Faridkot in Punjab, India; 114 were less than 12 years old. The patients had diagnoses of cerebral palsy, mental retardation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and/or autism. Seizure was one of their many health problems.

In phase 1 of the study, researchers collected hair samples and tested them for 53 elements. The samples showed high levels of barium, cadmium, manganese, lead, and uranium, “signifying long-term exposure.” Manganese and uranium were particularly high. Eighty-seven percent of the children under 12 years and 26% of the remaining patients had manganese levels that exceeded the reference range. “The 95 Percentile test value for the children group was 7 mg/kg compared to a 95 Percentile Upper Reference range of 0.72 mg/kg.” For uranium, 88% of the children and 85% of the remaining patients exceeded the recommended reference range. “The 95 Percentile for children was 1.9 mg/kg compared to a hair reference range of 0.1 mg/kg, exceeding levels 20 times.” Baseline urine results also exceeded the reference ranges for many elements, indicating ongoing metal exposure. The researchers used reference ranges from the German Environmental Protection Agency when available. They followed standard laboratory regulations to develop ranges not provided by the agency.

Before administering a DMSA-challenge urine test, participants were given nutritional supplements for several weeks. DMSA, like other synthetic chelators, is known to bind to nutrient minerals and thereby increase their elimination. The loss of necessary nutrients can be harmful in children who are ill and/or have nutritional deficiencies. In addition to the supplement program, all were clinically evaluated and blood chemistry testing was performed. No child with abnormal blood chemistry underwent the DMSA challenge. Fifty-five were given DMSA, which increased lead excretion. (DMSA is FDA-approved to remove lead from the body.) DMSA did not affect barium, cadmium, manganese, or uranium, which were high in the baseline urine tests. Because of the high baseline levels, the researchers suspected that the patients were dealing with ongoing exposure from their environment.

Several soil and water samples were taken near the center, and the researchers randomly tested six. High concentrations of uranium were found in water samples. Uranium is found naturally in various regions of India. Mining practices and the country’s nuclear facilities exacerbate India’s uranium pollution. In addition, India has been importing the toxic, heavy-metal-containing wastes from wealthier industrial nations in Europe and the US for decades.

Blaurock-Busch E, Friedle A, Godfrey M, Schulte-Uebbing CEE. Metal exposure in the physically and mentally challenged children of Punjab, India. Medica. 2010;5(2):105–113.

Homeopathy

and Heavy Metals

When considering treatments for heavy metal toxicity, homeopathy rarely comes to mind – at least in the US. Yet, research studies out of India show that homeopathic remedies can reduce metal levels and relieve symptoms. (Homeopathic remedies are potentized, highly dilute preparations that contain little, if any, measurable amounts of the original substance.) India has been a dumping ground for toxic wastes from Europe and the US for decades. In addition, India’s poor often live in areas where drinking water from wells is naturally contaminated with arsenic. Conventional medicine has little to offer people suffering from ongoing metal toxicity.

Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh and colleagues initiated a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in 2005 involving 55 volunteers living in arsenic-contaminated villages. These participants were randomized into two groups. One group took Arsenicum album 30C, a common homeopathic remedy made from arsenic, while the other took a placebo twice daily for 10 consecutive days. Urine samples to test for arsenic were collected daily up to 11 days after the first dose of remedy or placebo. Those taking the remedy excreted more arsenic than those in the control group. A second group of 68 agreed to take part in a study only if they all received the active remedy. Many were very ill, suffering from arsenic-induced liver, lung, and skin ailments. They refused to waste their time (and blood) on a placebo. This group took Arsenicum album for 7 to 10 consecutive days with a remedy-free period of 15 days between each treatment period. Volunteers in this group donated urine and blood samples over the three-month study period. The researchers analyzed blood samples for several enzymes and biomarkers to monitor liver function and toxicity: aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione. The positive changes in these levels and in the volunteers’ physical symptoms encouraged the researchers to investigate the use of Arsenicum album 200C, a more potent (and more dilute) preparation.

In a follow-up study, published in 2011, the researchers reported that 96 out of 130 volunteers who took part in a three-month study continued to take Arsenicum album 200C (six to eight globules [#20] daily for six consecutive days each month) for a total of six months; 65 continued treatment for a total of one year, and 15 chose to continue for two years. Blood and urine samples taken at the one- and two-year medical checks showed that all toxicity markers, except alanine amino transferase (ALT), remained low. ALT was “… not much beyond the upper threshold limit.” Arsenic-induced skin problems greatly improved, as did symptoms of stomach and liver ailments. “The subjects taking Arsenicum album 200C apparently sustained the initial improvements for a period up to 1 year, and some of them who turned up at 2 years were also found to be in a much better health, signifying sustenance of the ameliorative effects of Arsenicum album for quite a long time,” the authors report. The researchers would like to see larger, more controlled studies of Arsenicum album conducted by others. Sociopolitical factors in these villages make controlled research very difficult, as the authors explain.

Cadmium poisoning also responds to homeopathic treatment, according to research conducted at India’s Cytogenetics Laboratory at the University of Kalyani (West Bengal). Using multiple groups of five mice, researchers tested the use of Cadmium Sulphoricum 30 and Cadmium Sulphoricum 200 (more dilute), given at set times before, after, or before-and-after mice were given an injection of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂). The researchers used Cadmium Sulph because homeopathic preparations of calcium chloride were unavailable. The researchers performed a chromosome aberration study, mitotic index and micronuclei studies, and a sperm head anomaly study on the mice. “The observer was ‘blinded’ during observation and scoring of different parameters in the treated and control series to remove the possibility of any ‘bias’ during scoring of data.” Both Cad Sulph 30 and Cad Sulph 200 “showed remarkable potential to reduce genotoxic effects produced by CdCl₂. …” Cad Sulph 200, the more potent (and more dilute) remedy, had a “more pronounced protective effect, particularly at longer fixation intervals.” Pretreatment with the homeopathic was least effective. A combined pre- and posttreatment was most effective. The results of this study encouraged the authors to suggest using Cadmium Sulphoricum to prevent genetic damage in people living in cadmium-contaminated areas.

Datta SS, Mallick PP, Khuda-Bukhsh AAR. Comparative efficacy of two microdoses of a potentized homoeopathic drug, Cadmium Sulphoricum, in reducing genotoxic effects produced by cadmium chloride in mice: a time course study. BMC Complement Altern Med. November 23, 2001;1(9). Available at: www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/1/9. Accessed April 26, 2011.

Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Pathak S, Guha B, Karmakar SR, et al. Can homeopathic arsenic remedy combat arsenic poisoning in humans exposed to groundwater arsenic contamination?: a preliminary report on first human trial. eCAM. 2005;2(4):537–548. Available at www.hindawi.com. Accessed May 5, 2011.

Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Roy-Karmakar S, Banerjee A, Banerjee P, et al. A follow-up study on the efficacy of the homeopathic remedy Arsenicum album in volunteers living in high risk arsenic contaminated areas. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2011. Available at: www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/129214. Accessed April 26, 2011.

Homeopathy Hypothesis

While Western medicine is still debating whether homeopathy actually works, Indian researchers have been investigating a hypothesis to explain why it works. Professor A. R. Khuda-Bukhsh, PhD, a genetics researcher at India’s Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University of Kalyani (West Bengal), first proposed his hypothesis at a symposium in October 1993. It was later published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine (March 1997;5[1]:43–46). Khuda-Bukhsh hypothesizes “that the potentized homeopathic drugs act through regulation of gene-expression. …”

Laboratory experiments have repeatedly shown that homeopathic remedies produce measurable physiological changes. Electron microscope studies, for example, have shown structural alterations at the subcellular level in the liver and other vital organs when exposed to a homeopathic remedy, according to Khuda-Bukhsh. He says that these effects cannot result from chemical interaction because “… remedies are diluted to such an extent that there can not be physical existence of a single molecule of the original drug substance.” Instead, he believes that molecular clusters of the original substance in the water solutions trigger receptors in the cells’ microtubules, affecting gene expression. Cellular research indicates that a cell’s internal microtubules regulate gene expression and control cell division. As water solutions become increasing dilute, non-water molecules cluster together, forming “larger and very stable aggregates” (Samal S, Geckeler KE. Unexpected solute aggregation in water on dilution. Chem. Commun. 2001;2224–2225). Dilute water solutions carry information much like magnetic media carries sound or text. Khuda-Bukhsh suggests that water clusters holding homeopathic information “… carry specific ‘signals’/’information’ that can be identified by specific receptors of the cells. These ‘signals’ can act as a ‘trigger’ for turning ‘on’ or ‘off’ some relevant genes, initiating a cascade of gene actions to alter and correct the gene expressions that went wrong to produce the disorder/disease.” Interestingly, homeopathic remedies fail to exert any effect in the presence of actinomycin D, a DNA transcription suppressor.

Researchers at India’s Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory (University of Kalyani, West Bengal) evaluate homeopathics’ gene-modulating effects using accepted, dependable techniques for detecting signal proteins. Signal proteins indicate changes in gene regulation. In a 2009 experiment, for example, the Indian researchers used immunofluorescence studies to identify reduced expression of the proteins AhR (related to skin health) and PCNA (affects life and death of cell) in mice that were given Secale cornutum 30C (ergot). The mice had skin papillomas, caused by DMBA and croton oil. Microscopic examination found changes in the papillomas of mice given the homeopathic. Those mice also showed reduced genotoxic and DNA damage in bone marrow cells.

“If one knows a particular language, no matter if the size of the script is small or large, the message will carry the same meaning,” writes Khuda-Bukhsh, “Therefore, if [homeopathic remedies] indeed carry some signals, and the cells can perceive that, then there should be a reactive process going on in the transduction of the signal to the target organ.” Experiments, so far, are finding the reaction predicted by his hypothesis.

Khuda-Bukhsh AR. Biological action of homeopathy medicine. Homeopath J. February 2011;4(4). Available at: www.homeorizon.com/homeopathic-articles/homeopathic-research-papers/biological-action-of-homeopathy-medicine. Accessed March 27, 2011.

———. Potentized homoeopathic drugs act through regulation of gene-expression: a hypothesis to explain their mechanism and pathways of action in vitro [abstract]. Complement Therap Med. March 1997;5(1):43–46. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com. Accessed March 27, 2011.

Khuda-Bukhsh AR, Bhattacharyya SS, Paul S, Dutta S, Boujedaini N, Belon P. Modulation of signal proteins: a plausible mechanism to explain how a potentized drug Secale cor 30C diluted beyond Avogadro’s limit combats skin papilloma in mice [abstract]. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. July 16, 2009. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19617203. Accessed March 27, 2011.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

Lymphatic drainage therapy assists the body in removing toxins and cellular waste, and it stimulates immune function. The lymphatic system, which includes the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes, is the immune system, says Victoria Bowmann in her interesting article for Explore! Bowmann uses a combination of electronic stimulation and massage to move toxin-carrying lymph through the system to the blood and on to the kidneys. She begins by heating the bare skin over the kidneys with a far infrared heat lamp (at least 12 inches away to avoid burning) for five minutes to encourage excretion. Then, she shines the heat lamp on the area targeted for therapy. Once the area is heated, Bowmann exposes it to a multiwave oscillating lightbulb that contains argon or neon gas. The frequencies of these bulbs help break down fat, releasing fat-soluble toxins. Then, Bowmann starts massaging, using a slow soothing motion beginning on the back and following lymphatic drainage patterns. (Her article contains diagrams.) The two primary manual techniques that she uses are very gentle and can be taught to the patient for self-use. The last part of her lymphatic drainage protocol consists of a frequency generator set at 880 hertz. Bowmann says, “This is the primary lymphatic frequency and moves toxins out of the interstitial fluid.”

Lymphatic drainage should be less intense with shorter duration for those with impaired kidney function to avoid a Herxheimer-type reaction. Herxheimer reactions occur when the body experiences an overload of released toxins. Patients with fluid retention need to be aware that lymphatic drainage therapy will lead to frequent urination and possibly to dark, odorous urine.

Bowmann’s article includes several supportive measures. Drinking extra water to carry off impurities tops the list. Other support measures include a 20-minute detoxification bath using Epsom salt and exercise. Gentle movement increases lymph flow, whereas exercise that is too intense will actually slow it. Brisk walking, swimming, and jumping on a minitrampoline stimulate lymphatic flow. Finally, introducing healthy probiotics into the rectum (reflorastation) benefits the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and improves elimination.

Bowmann V. Lymphatic Drainage Therapy. Explore! 2010;19(10). Available at www.myrealhealth.com/08.press/Lymph_Drainage.pdf. Accessed May 1, 2011

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

Gadolinium, a little-known paramagnetic metal used in chelate form in most magnetic resonance scanning (MRI) contrast agents, causes nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severe kidney insufficiency. The chelate is supposed to stabilize the metal ion, reducing toxicity so that the metal can be excreted in urine. People with poor kidney function, however, are unable to eliminate the metal effectively. Although MRIs can be performed without a contrast agent, gadolinium-based contrast agents, such as Omniscan, allows the scan to pick up more detail.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), first identified in 1997, is characterized by swelling and tightening of the skin, particularly in the extremities. The swelling produces stiffness and inhibits joint movement. In addition, red or darkened patches, papules, and plaques and blisterlike lesions form on the skin. Patients may report sharp pain, burning, and/or itching as well as muscle weakness. Some lose their ability to walk. Improving kidney function is the only known means of slowing progression of the disease. Gradual reversal has occurred in a few cases. Patients with acute or chronic severe kidney insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) and patients with any amount of renal dysfunction due to hepatorenal syndrome or in the perioperative liver transplantation period have the greatest risk of acquiring the disease, according to FDA.

Because of the disease’s severity, doctors and patients need to question whether the contrast agent is absolutely necessary and weigh the risks versus the benefits. FDA advises patients, “If a [gadolinium-based contrast agent] is essential, you and your physician should consider that the dose of the contrast agent should not exceed that recommended in the product’s label and that a repeat administration of the contrast agent should not be performed until enough time has passed to allow for the preceding contrast agent to be eliminated from your body.”

In 2006, Dr. Henrik Thomsen, a Danish researcher, confirmed that Omniscan releases toxic gadolinium during contrast-enhanced MRI. Thomsen’s criticism of Omniscan led its manufacturer GE Healthcare, a subsidiary of General Electric, to sue the doctor under British libel laws. Thomsen decided to countersue when the company called him a liar in a press release. GE Healthcare quickly dropped its libel suit against Thomsen, claiming: “… the firm did not mean to stifle academic debate.” Thomsen received an undisclosed financial settlement from the company. Lawsuits against GE Healthcare filed by patients in the UK and US are pending.

Gaier H. A disease of contrast. What Doctors Don’t Tell You. April 2011; 22(1):30.

Leigh D. Danish scientist sued by drug firm under British libel laws to counterclaim. Guardian. February 16, 2011. Available at: www.guardian.co.uk. Accessed March 24, 2011.

Leigh D. US drug firm drops libel action against scientist. Guardian. February 18, 2010. Available at www.guardian.co.uk. Accessed March 24, 2011.

US Food and Drug Administration. Questions and answers on gadolinium-based contrast agents [Web page]. www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety. Accessed March 24, 2011.

Uranium

From its extraction from earth to its use in energy production and weapons, the heavy metal uranium, which has the additional hazard of being radioactive, endangers public health. In “The South African Experience,” E. Blaurock-Busch, PhD, tells of hills of mining waste covered with uranium dust. People live in sheds built on this land and plant vegetables that struggle in the polluted soil. A soil sample taken near a mine found 1015 mg/kg of uranium; 2 mg/kg is considered the safe limit. Soil near housing had a 373 mg/kg measurement. Other metals, such as manganese and iron, are mined near Johannesburg as well. “Humans don’t necessarily comprehend the laws of biochemistry, one of which dictates that the toxic effect of one metal is enhanced when one or more toxic metals are present,” writes Blaurock-Busch. Uranium pollution affects war-torn countries as well. The use of depleted uranium munitions in Kosovo and Iraq has contaminated those countries with toxic levels of radioactive uranium dust, resulting in higher cancer rates and more birth defects.

Independent researchers such as chemical physicist Christopher C. Busby criticize government and international regulators who ignore the health risks posed by uranium mining and the use of this radioactive metal. Busby says that the current risk model used by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) “does not represent the real risks or consequences. …” ICRP calculates cancer risk by comparing radiation exposures to the amount of gamma radiation received by survivors of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Gamma radiation exposure, says Busby, is like a giant flashbulb. Uranium, however, also emits alpha and beta particles. Inhaling uranium dust and eating contaminated food exposes a person to chronic, internal, low-dose radiation. “Uranium binds strongly to DNA but it also, by virtue of its high atomic number, absorbs natural background radiation about 500,000 times more efficiently than water, the main component of the body, and scatters this into local tissue as photoelectrons,” Busby explains. Dr. Abram Petkau at the Atomic Energy of Canada Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment (Manitoba) was among the first to show that very low exposure to this ionizing radiation causes more cell damage than higher exposure levels. The ICRP risk model does not address the hazard of low-dose radiation exposure.

Busby showed the failings of the current radiation risk models in his 2009 article about excess infant leukemia from five different countries after the April 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. That accident exposed Scotland, Greece, Germany, Belarus, and other European countries to very low-level radiation. Results show a statistically significant 43% increase in infant leukemia in babies born during the peak exposure period of July 1, 1986, to December 31, 1987, compared with those born between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1985, and January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1990. It was the countries with the lowest exposure, well below 1 mSv (the accepted safe limit), that showed the greatest increases in infant leukemia. “The excess risks in individual countries,” says Busby, “do not increase monotonically with the conventionally calculated doses, the relation being biphasic, increasing sharply at low doses and falling at high doses.”

Infant leukemia is not the only consequence of Chernobyl. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, published on March 17, 2011, found an increased risk of thyroid cancer for those exposed to radiation when they were children or adolescents. This increase in thyroid cancer has persisted 25 years after the accident. The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) has recently published Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, a collection of papers, translated from Russian, written by eastern European experts. The NYAS press release about this publication states, “According to the authors, official discussions from the International Atomic Energy Agency and associated United Nations’ agencies … have largely downplayed or ignored many of the findings reported in the Eastern European scientific literature. …”

Now, the nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station are emitting radioactive metals. Whether through calculation or just ignorance, authorities state that radiation levels are too low to cause a problem. I can’t help but wonder what the scientific data about this accident will show 25 years from now.

Blaurock-Busch E. The South African experience. Presented at: North West University Conference. November 29, 2010. Available at: http://www.ibcmt.com/2011-01-11-IBCMT-Conference-Johannesburg-SouthAfrica-Nov29-2010.pdf.

Busby C. Uranium weapons: why all the fuss? United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. 2008. Available at: www.unidir.org/pdf/articles/pdf-art2758.pdf. Accessed May 4, 2011.

———. Very low dose fetal exposure to Chernobyl contamination resulted in increases in infant leukemia in Europe and raises questions about current radiation risk models. Int J Environ Res Public Health. December 7, 2009;6:3105–3114. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2800337/pdf/ijerph-06-03105.pdf.

MEXT Releases Map of Estimated Accumulated Radiation Dose near Fukushima Daiichi NPS [online press release]. Japan Atomic Industrial Forum. May 2, 2011. www.jaif.or.jp/english/news_images/pdf/ENGNEWS01_1304322059P.pdf. Accessed May 2, 2011.

National Institutes of Health. Higher cancer risk continues after Chernobyl [online press release]. March 17, 2011. www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2011/nci-17.htm. Accessed March 24, 2011.