Subject:  (Carney) Lookout Mountain, local editorial.....
Date:     Tue, 1 Jun 1999 212300 -0500 (CDT)
From:     "Roy L. Beavers" <rbeavers@llion.org>
To:       emfguru <rbeavers@llion.org>
--------------------------------------------------


......."The potential risks far outweigh the benefits......."  Says
the editor of the Mountain Times.....

Also, Dr. Richard Hoffman, Colorado's Chief Medical Officer, ... "has
retreated from his earlier contention that there was no evidence of a
threat to nearby residents...."

It seems to me that Dr. Hoffman's "retreat" has not been given nearly
the press coverage his original "nothing to worry about" kind of statement
got.....  Has the Denver Post, for example, picked up on that???  Or has
it made any of the TV networks out there???

This editorial, Deb, will now forever be "on the record" in our
archives....  You might want to tell the editor......

Roy Beavers (EMFguru)......
rbeavers@llion.org.......
.....It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.....
EMF-L web-site can be found at: 
EMF-L archives can be found at: 
..................PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROFITS..................

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 19:59:25 -0600
From: Deb Carney 
To:  "Beavers, Roy" 
Subject: Mt. Times Editorial

Here is what the Mt. Times wrote about the proposed Supertower on
Lookout Mt.
Deb

EDITORIAL


New Broadcast Tower Poses
Too Many Potential Threats

 No one can prove it will be safe.
 
While absolute safety often is impossible to prove, there are enough
unanswered questions about the new super tower proposed for Lookout
Mountain that it would be prudent to find another site.
 
The Colorado Department of Health has stated that it cannot find a
definitive link between exposure to electromagnetic radiation and higher
than expected cancer rates in the area of existing towers.  But, the
fact that most scientists cannot find a link does not mean there is
none.  Our history is replete with instances where no one could find a
connection between certain types or exposures and human illness.  Early
studies failed to identify a threat from exposure to coal dust in
mines.  Now, we continue to compensate those who died of Black Lung
disease.  Early studies of asbestos exposures were inconclusive.  Today,
we not only know better, we are losing people every day who were exposed
to excessive amounts.  Similar stories can be related about other types
of environmental hazards that were first thought to be innocuous and
later found to be definite hazards, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
pesticides, microwave emissions, radon daughters, and on and on.
 
There is one thing we know for sure about cancers---most have long
latent periods.  The effects of exposures don’t manifest themselves in
humans until 20 or more years later, and some have even longer
latencies.  But, just as with the other environmental hazards mentioned,
there are now enough studies showing statistical abnormalities of cancer
in areas near towers that emit high frequency radiation, that the safest
course would be to limit exposures.
   
The Jefferson County Board of Education has taken that stand,
expressing concern about exposures to children at Ralston Elementary.
Dr. Richard Hoffman, Colorado’s chief medical officer and
epidemiologist, has retreated from his early contention that there was
no evidence of a threat to nearby residents.
 
Regardless of whether future studies show a definite link between these
types of exposures and cancer in humans, or whether they continue to be
inconclusive, the safest course is not to increase exposures to people
living in close proximity to these towers.
 
This is just another instance where the potential risks far outweigh
the benefits.

      …the Editor
    -30-








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Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.feb.se/EMF-L/EMF-L.html