John R. Goldsmith on the usefulness of epidemiological data to identify links between point sources of radiation and disease.
Sometimes the demonstration of a plausible risk is met with inappropriate attempts to explain it away rather than to protect the health of the public. This may have occurred in the case of leukemia in the vicinity of nuclear installations. In 1989, John Goldsmith prepared a document on this topic for the World Health Organization that persuasively argued for the association to be examined vigorously and to be taken seriously as a potential health risk. However, other commentators on the problem have seemed intent on raising unsubstantial methodological objections and insisting on standards of evidence inappropriate to the justification of action intended to protect the health of the public. Recommendations for resolving this specific issue are made, but the overriding concern is that the level of proof required to justify action for health protection should be less than that required to constitute causation as a scientific principle.
Frentzel-Beyme
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University of Bremen, Germany.
D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000266:history; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000266:history; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007953:Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D011210:Power Plants