A note from the editor:
In response to the remarkable increase in the number of inquiries about our work--and expressions of appreciation for our pioneering efforts--this newsletter will now be published several times a year. Thus we hope to keep our loyal supporters informed of new findings and developments in our work, at the same time serving as an introduction for those just beginning to learn about us.

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1. The highest average levels of Sr-90 were in counties closest to nuclear plants.
2. The average Sr-90 concentration has risen steadily in the past decade. Children born in the late 1990s had about 50% higher Sr-90 levels than those born in the late 1980s.

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On October 23, 2002, we presented local results of its baby tooth study to legislators of Westchester County, NY. Westchester became the first government agency to support our efforts when it appropriated $25,000 for the study of Sr-90 in baby teeth near the Indian Point nuclear power plant located in northwest Westchester.

Similar to national findings, average Sr-90 levels in Westchester baby teeth were the highest of any county in southern New York. The average found in Westchester teeth rose steadily since the late 1980s. Results were covered by multiple New York media, since the public is increasingly concerned about a potential terrorist attack against Indian Point, located only 35 miles north of Manhattan. Late last year, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano announced his support of a $500,000 feasibility study to convert Indian Point from a nuclear to a natural gas plant.

Read more by clicking here.

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RPHP BEGINS TESTING TEETH FROM CHILDREN WITH CANCER

We have tested Sr-90 levels in 47 baby teeth from persons diagnosed with cancer as children. Over 40% of these are from Florida, where RPHP received a special grant to seek out pediatric oncology hospital units to help collect teeth.

While more teeth are needed before official figures can be released to the public, the average Sr-90 level of these 47 teeth are considerably higher than that of healthy children the same age residing in the same area. We are now seeking out teeth in the New York City area from children with cancer. This is the first known "case-control" study in nearly 40 years examining in-body radiation levels for sick vs. healthy persons.

About two-thirds of the "cancer teeth" are from children with leukemia or brain cancer. National rates of these two conditions have risen 44% and 50% since 1975.

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NEW MEDICAL JOURNAL ARTICLE TO BE PUBLISHED

The latest article written by our staff will be published in the spring by the journal Archives of Environmental Health. The article addresses the childhood cancer rate over the past decade, which exceeds the national average in counties near 14 eastern U.S. nuclear power plants and may well be the most comprehensive published study of childhood cancer incidence near U.S. nuclear reactors.

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ALEC BALDWIN SPEAKS AT ANNUAL MEETING

On October 3, the well-known actor and long-time RPHP supporter Alec Baldwin was the keynote speaker at our annual meeting, held in New York City. Baldwin stressed the importance of our scientific research as crucial evidence in the current national debate about the health and safety threats posed by nuclear reactors.

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PATCH ADAMS ENDORSES GROUP

We recently received an enthusiastic endorsement from Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams of the Gesundheit Institute. Patch Adams, whose life was profiled in a 1998 feature film starring Robin Williams, has become a passionate speaker for social causes, including the risks of nuclear reactors. Dr. Adams wrote

"I come at it (opposing nuclear energy) as a scientist and physician for 35 years, and well aware of the research in low level radiation. . . and the horrors of nuclear weapons.

"We are fortunate to have people like RPHP who are trying to educate our population about the truth about radiation's effects on our body. Their research must be supported and distributed so that we can collectively end this arrogant stupidity in the name of greed."

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GARY NULL DOCUMENTARY FEATURES RPHP RESEARCHERS

Nationally-known nutritionist and environmentalist Gary Null has completed a television documentary "Fatal Fallout" on the history of the health threat posed by atomic power in the U.S. The 90-minute piece features RPHP Board members Jay Gould, Ernest Sternglass, and Joseph Mangano, along with numerous other radiation experts. Null is seeking interest from PBS stations to air the piece, and is also scheduling the documentary at film festivals and movie theaters around the nation.

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METHODOLOGY FOR ST. LOUIS STUDY DEVELOPED

We have prepared a plan to begin studying the health risks of atomic bomb test fallout to St. Louis residents born in the late 1950s. We will first study a sample of several thousand boys born in St. Louis from 1958-60, who donated incisors with no decay and who were not breast-fed. Results will show if Baby Boomers with the highest Sr-90 levels in baby teeth had the greatest risk of dying or developing cancer by their early 40s. The project began when Washington University in St. Louis found 85,000 untested teeth left over from the original baby tooth study conducted from 1958-70.