MINISTRYLDF CONCERN FOR PUBLIG HEALTH
151
16) 874-5955
EAST
STREET:* BUFFALO’ NEW ‘YORK: 14207
ee eee tee ae
June6, 960
-
" @Clie!e Sloan
Office of Sidney &. Yates
2234 Rayburn House Office
Building
|
Washington, D, Cc.
Re:
-
eee
oat
20525
Reaettling Pnewetak Atoll
Dear me. Sican:
|
At the request: of the Micronesia Support Committee in Honolulu, I
have reviewed the report of Michael Bender and A. Bertrané Srill
entitled “Assessment of Radiation Health Effects of the Resettlement of Enewetak Atoll." I am enclosing a copy of my curriculum
witae eo that you will have some evidence of my qualifications for
reviewing this document. My research experience has been with
human populations exposed to low levela of ionizing radiation.
XI am @ consultant to the comittees on environmental health problems
of the New York State and Wisconsin Medical Associations, a member
of the British Columbia Medical Association Committee on environmental
heaith, and a consultant to the Division of (Radiation Exposure)
Standard Setting for the U.S. Muclear Regufatory Conmiesion.
Frankly, Drs. Benéur anc Brill are writing outside of their area
.Of scientific expertise. Neither is a biostatiatician or:
.
;
epidemiologist, nor hag either becn among the 127 scientists ~.
involved'in the twenty-year‘atudy of the Marshallese conducted
through Brookhaven Bational Laboratosy. They have used infurmation from the draft copy of the 1979 BLIR report which is
.
Geaigned to assess generalized effects on a large normal pppulation exposed to radiation. With no appropriate modification,
they use these probabilities to predict “health effects" for the
omall native population of Enewetak Atoll. ‘YThe level of genetic
problems ané chronic disease already present in this population,
their increased susceptibility to future radiation damage
(cumulative with that already suffered), and the inadequacy of
present knowledge about the long-term fertility and mild mutation
effects were completely ignored.
An
affiliate
of
="
- — Global Education Associates
792 Park Ave East Orange ‘New Jere 0701)