Subject: Bruce Hocking study revisited (McLean)..
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 030721 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Roy L. Beavers"
To: emfguru
--------------------------------------------------
Hi everybody:
One of the more significant studies which suggest that RF/MW towers
may pose a risk to those who live nearby is the childhood leukemia
study that was done by Dr. Bruce Hocking of Australia. His original
findings - along with the results of his latest re-analysis of the
data - are reported below.
Conclusion: "There was an association between proximity to the TV
towers and decreased survival, among cases of childhood leukemia."
The risk factor (mortality rate ratio) was 2.1. i.e., Those leukemia
victims living within the inner ring (of proximity to the towers) had
a death experience ratio that was 2.1 times that of those who lived
in the outer ring (of proximity to the TV towers) in North Sydney,
Australia.....
Our thanks to Lynn McLean for forwarding this important new
information....
Cheerio.....
Roy Beavers (EMFguru)
roy@emfguru.com
.....It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.....
NEW!!! Website... http://emfguru.com
...................People are more important than profits.................
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 17:21:28 +1000
From: "EMRAA (EMR Alliance Australia)"
To: rbeavers@llion.org
Dear Roy
Here is an abstract of the poster presented at the Annual Scientific
Meeting of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in Adelaide SA, 2-5
May 2000 by Dr Bruce Hocking. Dr Hocking previously reported a higher
incidence of childhood leukemia around TV towers in north Sydney.
Best wishes
Lyn McLean
Decreased survival
for childhood leukaemia
in proximity to TV towers
B Hocking FAFOM
Consultant in Occupational Medicine
I Gordon PhD
Statistical Consulting Centre
University of Melbourne
Parkville
Vic Australia 3052
Abstract
Objective. In a previous study we reported an increased risk of childhood
leukaemia in municipalities proximate to TV towers in north Sydney compared
with more distant ones (Hocking B Gordon I Hatfield G Grain H. Cancer
incidence and proximity to TV towers Med J Aust 1996; 165: 601-605). The
rate ratio for incidence, comparing the inner ring of municipalities to the
outer ring, was 1.55 (95% confidence interval 1.00 – 2.41) and for
mortality the rate ratio was 2.74 (95% confidence interval 1.42 – 5.27).
The objective of the current study was to analyse the survival experience
of the cases in detail, to determine whether there are differences between
the two populations.
Design and Outcome Measures. Survival data on cases diagnosed from 1972-93
were analysed. Data on all cases who survived for less than one month were
verified by the NSW cancer registry and one case diagnosed at autopsy
excluded. Data were described by Kaplan-Meier curves. The log-rank and
Wilcoxon tests were used to compare the two groups. Cox’s proportional
hazards model was used to adjust for confounders.
Results. There were 123 diagnosed cases of acute lymphatic leukaemia (ICD-9
204.0) of which 29 (16 deaths) were in the inner ring of municipalities and
94 (34 deaths) were in the outer ring. We found a significant difference in
survival (log rank: P = 0.03; Wilcoxon: P = 0.05). The 5 year survival in
the inner ring of municipalities was 55% and in the outer ring 71% (inner
23% worse); at 10 years the survival was 33% and 62% respectively (inner
47% worse). After adjustment for the potential confounders using Cox’s
model, the mortality rate ratio comparing the inner ring with the outer
ring was found to be 2.1 (95% confidence interval: 1.1 – 4.0). We were not
able to control for cytogenetic abnormalities.
Conclusion . There was an association between proximity to the TV towers
and decreased survival, among cases of childhood leukaemia.
EMRAA (Electromagnetic Radiation Alliance Australia)
Suite 16, Eton Arcade 754-760 Princes Highway, Sutherland NSW 2232
PO Box 589, Sutherland NSW 1499 Australia
Ph: +61 2 9523 4750 Fax: +61 2 9521 1477 Email: emraa@ssec.org.au
Archive provided courtesy of WaveGuide, http://www.wave-guide.org
Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.emfguru.com