research agenda
Wenzl, Thurman
Has anyone glanced at the NIEHS-Feychting research agenda?
I just glanced at the version in Microwave News, and see that there seems to
be no mention of new populations which may have elevated exposures - I'm
thinking of rail passengers or rail workers on systems powered by overhead
power frequency lines.
In the US that might exclude the NY to DC sector, but towards New Haven, and
in Japan and other countries - there are many adults exposed to 30-40 mG
averages while they are on the train. Commuting on such a line 5 days a
week could result in exposures comparable to many utility workers.
Perhaps one problem with such a suggestion - is that such exposures are not
in either of the categories we usually discuss - occupational or
residential.
With little interest in the US in new epi, perhaps our colleagues in Japan
or Europe might be persuaded to undertake some feasibility study - perhaps
of female breast cancer among rail commuters. Such a study would not suffer
from the rare disease problems which continue to be troublesome in looking
at leukemia or brain cancer among workers. Preliminary calculations which I
made for SW Connecticut suggested that the fraction of the population which
were rail riders was adequate to detect a breast cancer effect if it were
present.
Thurman Wenzl
Usual disclaimers - these are my own thoughts.
And thanks to Lou Slesin for his continued excellent work.