-Caveat Lector- New childhood leukemia case surfaces in Fallon The Associated Press 12/30/00 10:51 PM FALLON, Nev. (AP) -- An eighth case of childhood leukemia this year has surfaced in this small rural town where the drinking water was found to contain twice as much arsenic as allowed by law, a newspaper reported Saturday. The cases are under investigation by the state Health Division, which is searching for a common link among the children. "To see this many cases all of a sudden is unusual," state epidemiologist Randall Todd said in Saturday's Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard. "If there is something in the environment, we need to find it so we can prevent further cases." Since the investigation began in July, Todd said he has met with the children and their families but has been unable to find any common factors that could account for the cause. The city of Fallon, with about 8,300 residents 60 miles east of Reno, is under a federal Environmental Protection Agency order to treat its drinking water. EPA officials have said they're unaware of any public water system in the country with such a high level of arsenic. Todd said it's only a remote possibility that the leukemia is linked to local water supplies. The water sources aren't the same for all the families, he said. In his investigation, Todd said he read through scientific studies of childhood leukemia in Woburn, Mass., that were the basis for the book and film "A Civil Action." The case was associated with women drinking water from two wells containing several contaminants while they were pregnant. Todd said there was a small amount of arsenic in the wells in Woburn, but it was not found to be responsible for the leukemia there. "Many times we don't find any common factors," Todd said. "The odds of this type of investigation yielding answers is not good, but the importance is high. "We have not found an answer yet and there is quite a bit more work that has to be done." The latest case involves a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia in November, the newpaper reported. No one knows what causes childhood leukemia. Suspected triggers include radiation exposure, electromagnetic fields or volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, solvents and fossil fuels. Arlene McDonnell, director of quality risk management for Churchill Community Hospital in Fallon, said some people have speculated about the effect of nuclear testing outside Fallon in the 1960s or activities associated with the Fallon Naval Air Station. "Think about all of the products we live with every day that we don't really think about," she said. "There are so many things we are exposed to each day. ... It is way too premature to know anything. "Statistically, based on our population, this is huge. Is it a coincidence, or is there a reason?" Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
