JOIN CDA NNEWS INDEX POLITICS DISPENSING EDUCATION FEATURES BOOKS SMALL ADS GP FEES LIGHT BITES
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AAEM Annual Meeting, Sunday, 3 November
2002. This is but a small part of the evidence given by Dr van Steenis in his speech. The complete speech is available from Dr van Steenis. CHILD VICTIMS OF UNWISE ENVIRONMENTAL AND VACCINATION POLICIES MAY SUFFER ASTHMA, CANCER, DIABETES, DEPRESSION, OTHER DISEASES AND PREMATURE DEATH. INTRODUCTION. A dearth of training in toxicology in the UK, refusal to undertake epidemiology of main diseases by zip-code or measurement with analysis of PM2.5 particulates has inevitably resulted in unwise local/political decisions regarding hazardous waste management, siting of waste sites, inadequate abatement or wrong systems for power generation/oil refineries/cement works coincinerating waste and opencasting of coal. The problems are intensified by OP pesticides and by allowing thiomersal containing vaccines & MMR at very early ages, not even allowing for weeks of prematurity. Several case studies follow which illustrate pitfalls and knock-on effects on health which amount to some 40% of the UK NHS budget. Most lethal processes are sited deliberately in deprived areas. Illness arises from exposure but severity is determined by diet, genes and hormonal integrity. Many diseases progress only when the body’s protective system has been damaged by deficiencies &/or exposures to toxins. CASE-STUDY 1-PEMBROKESHIRE OIL COMPLEX. The defunct 2000MW power station burned heavy fuel oil 1973 to 1991, residual fuel oil until 1996, without any abatement, then tried to obtain consent to switch to a bitumen mix with FGD, but did not succeed. While coal burning emits alkaline particles averaging size PM5, RFO results in acidic PM2 releases. Particles smaller than PM2.5 enter the lungs, where most are retained. The US War Department in 1943 already realised that the most dangerous particles were sized PM1. Porton Down (UK) in 1961 measured emissions of tagged PM1 to PM5 particles released from a 200 feet chimney revealing 44% grounded by 10 miles, another 50% between miles 11 and 50, and the balance by mile 80. Further measurements in USA/UK lead to the conclusion that the most dangerous footprint lies downwind within 7 miles per 100 feet of chimney height with much grounding within the first 1.3 miles in still weather. The power station and oil refineries hence smothered the footprint downwind with PM2.5s. First result was asthma in the children including 38% diagnosed with chronic asthma by age 5 in Whitland compared with only 1% along upwind Cardigan Bay coastline. Hospital admission rates with asthma coding were 17 in Pembroke & 14 in Milford Haven area compared to 1 in Worcestershire. These very fine particles also caused clinical depression (900% in affected area compared with Cardigan Bay), diabetes, leukaemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, breast and colon cancer, hypothyroidism& arthritis. The Health Effects Institute report of May 2000 proved respiratory & cardiovascular effects of PM2.5s enabling USEPA prosecutions to force cleaner plant. Cancer incidence in the worst footprint is now 800% that of parts of West Sussex. I had a contract on comparing hospital admissions for cancer in high versus low asthma zip-codes. The result showed 20 times the admissions in the high asthma zip-codes. The Welsh coastal cancer incidence is also influenced by radioactive spray/rain emanating from the Irish Sea contaminated by unlimited discharges from Sellafield nuclear facility since 1956. Incidence of leukaemia and some cancers is 4 times higher within the first 1.3 miles from the shoreline. PAHs (poly aromatic hydrocarbons) damage the p53 gene, which normally prevents growth of blood vessels in any cancer, hence then allowing tumour growth. The same applies to malignant melanoma begun by human caused radioactivity causing mutations, with growth after damage to p53 by certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light. Whenever the power station started up, levels of nickel, vanadium, cadmium, arsenic and chromium zoomed. Nickel causes asthma, disturbances of the heart electrical system, and cancers of lung & ?colon. One school athlete, without allergies, saw her peak flow drop from 510 to 340 from Texaco’s emissions and below 210 when the power station emissions grounded. Across areas of the UK I have studied the ambient level of children needing asthma inhalers in least polluted areas averages 3% (New Zealand 7% with heavier agrochemical use) which can be attributed to OP pesticides affecting the immune system and mould allergy. The level along the coastline prior to the oil industry and OP use was under 1 in 300 children. The fine lung particulates are mopped up by macrophages with T-lymphocytes involved, but excess particulates result in fibrosis. The inflammatory process goes on for 6 days with release of cytokines etc, which result in stickier blood red cells & platelets hence heart attacks/strokes about day 4. Studies by Schwartz have proven that it is new patients who die years earlier rather than those already terminal. Studies in Southern California etc confirmed that ozone also causes asthma lasting about 30 hours while worsening effects of concurrent PM2.5s. Any fibrosis limits lung development in children obvious after 3 years exposure. Pembrokeshire ozone in summer has exceeded 140ug/m3 weekly average due to NOx conversion in sunlight. Dr. Dick van Steenis MBBS |
