The Michigan Daily-Friday, July 17, 1981-Page 5
Pollution, cancer
link questioned
CHICAGO (AP) - Pollution of the
environment from such sources as
automobiles and chemical wastes has
not been shown to increase people's risk
of developing cancer, a panel of doctors
concludes in a report disputed by
several specialists.
But the report, in the current issue of
the Journal of the American Medical
Association, distinguishes between the
workplace and the general environ-
ment, and says that carcinogens like
asbestos and chromates in the work-
place may account for a future increase
in cancer.
THE AMA'S Council on Scientific Af-
fairs, which wrote the report, said there
has been no significant increase in can-
cer deaths that parallels the rise of
pollution in the last 30 years.
But some specialists called that con-
clusion premature and said several
studies have shown that some environ-
mental pollutants - including asbestos
- can increase the risk of cancer.
Dr. Richard Jones, a council mem-
ber, said in a telephone interview that
"a lot of people have implied auto
pollution and all other
pollutions ... that may be contributing
to the fouling of the environment are
probably causing all these cancers we
have."
BUT HE SAID that despite increased
pollution, particularly from the greater
use of chemicals derived from oil
products, there has not been a
significant increase in cancer during
the last few decades.
The report notes that there is a laten-
cy period of about 20 years between ex-
posure to a carcinogen and the ap-
pearance of cancer. But Jones said that
if the pollutants were causing cancer,
some signs should already be ap-
pearing.
He added, however, 'there are
probably some things in the environ-
ment that may still be found to cause
cancer."
ROBERT METCALF, a University of
Illinois biology professor and a con-
sultant to the World Health
Organization, said it is premature to
dismiss environmental pollutants as
cancer-causing agents. "I don't see how
anyone can say we've had time to find
out," he said.
INDIVIDUALTHEATRES
S Ave of lberty 761-9700
THE SERIOUS FAIRY-
TALE ABOUT THE
TERROR 8MAGIC
OF A 90 FT.
MONSTER
DKE thief caught
A suspect in the theft of three bicycles
at the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity
house, 1004 Olivia, was apprehended
last night at the house by several of the
residents, and then seized by the police,
police said. One of the residents, David
Maas, said he witnessed Twyman
Penn, 19, of Ypsilanti, steal three bikes,
valued at about $400, Wednesday night.
- Penn apparently returned to the scene
of the crime last night and Maas and
others saw him, brought him into the
house and called the police, who came
and arrested him for larceny over $100.
Woman assaulted
A woman was sexually assaulted
Tuesday in a home on the 3500 block of
Pheasant Run, on the southeast side of
Ann Arbor, where she works as a
housekeeper, police reported yester-
day. The 25-year-old woman told police
she blacked-out, then woke up lying
naked in bed and realized she had been
assaulted. Police believe they could
have a suspect, because the victim said.
she may know the man, and an in-
vestigation is in progress.
Indecent exposure
at East Quad
An indecent exposure was reported at
East Quad dormitory Tuesday, police
said yesterday. The suspect, a male,
6'4" tall, was seen exposing himself in
an East Quad corridor at about 11 p.m.,
police said.
Door stolen from
lumber company
A door, valued at $125, was stolen
from Fingerle Lumber Co., 214 E.
Madison, Wednesday at about 10 p.m.,
police said. The security guard obser-
ved two suspects taking the door, but
neither of them have been apprehen-
ded.
Christopher
Reeve