New York Times Whitewashes
Environmental Causes of Cancer -- by Samuel
S. Epstein, M.D.
CHICAGO, Dec. 14 (AScribe
Newswire) -- Following is a commentary by
Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.; Chairman, Cancer
Prevention Coalition; Professor Emeritus,
Environmental Medicine, University of
Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.
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New York Times Whitewashes
Environmental Causes of Cancer
New York Times columnist Gina
Kolata's article, "Environment and Cancer:
The Links are Elusive" (Dec. 13, 05), claims
that "cancer statistics do not indicate a
cancer epidemic," and that "Rates of cancer
have been steadily dropping for 50 years,"
apart from tobacco-related cancers.
However, these claims are contrary
to the National Cancer Institute's (NCI)
latest available data in its "Cancer
Statistics Review, 1975-2002." During this
period, there has been a major decrease in
the incidence of lung cancer, the single
most common cancer, due to decreased smoking
in men. Meanwhile, there has been a major
increase in the incidence of a wide range of
non-smoking related cancers. These include:
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, by 74 percent; acute
childhood leukemia, by 68 percent; childhood
brain cancer, by 52 percent; acute adult
leukemia, by 56 percent; and testes cancer,
by 51 percent. Overall mortality rates have
remained virtually unchanged, despite $50
billion NCI funding, predominantly allocated
to diagnosis, treatment and treatment
related research, with only minimal funding
for research on cancer prevention.
Contrary to Kolata's assertion,
there is an extensive body of published
evidence on avoidable exposures to
carcinogens in the totality of the
environment -- air, water, the workplace,
and consumer products; food, cosmetics and
toiletries; and household products. This
information has been summarized in the
Cancer Prevention Coalition's 2003 "The Stop
Cancer Before It Starts Campaign," endorsed
by over 100 leading scientific experts on
cancer prevention and epidemiology (http://www.preventcancer.com).
Further information is detailed in the
September 2005 University of Massachusetts
review on Environmental and Occupational
Causes of Cancer (http://www.sustainableproduction.org),
by Dr. Richard Clapp, a leading
international epidemiological expert, and
colleagues at the Boston University School
of Public Health.
Finally, Kolata's article is
consistent with her track record of extreme
anti-environmental and pro-corporate bias.
Surely the New York Times could publish a
more objective report on such a critical
national concern.
