San Antonio health data had been withheld

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

A couple of weeks ago I reported that the federal Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry had documented a high concentration of
certain diseases in the neighborhood around Kelly Air Force Base, but it
had stopped short of blaming Air Force pollution for the problems.

The San Antonio Express-News (August 26, 1999) presented a troubling
sidelight of the federal study. Local health officials were aware of
high disease rates in the area, but it had failed to report them to the
public.

According to the newspaper, Dr. Fernando Guerra, Director of the San
Antonio Metropolitan Health District, explained, "One can't just select
out a community and call attention to it."

This approach flies in the face of the trend, seen in other health
agencies, to inform communities so they can help analyze conditions and
design responses to real or perceived health threats.

The newspaper continued, "Guerra said pointing out health problems in a
community often means explaining the cause, and added the health
district didn't think it would accomplish anything by releasing the
information."

Express-News (August 29, 1999) columnist Roddy Stinson suggested an
additional possible explanation: "Politically, it makes even more sense.
No use making the Defense Department angry and giving the town a
national black eye until all the facts are in and specific conclusions
and medical recommendations can be made."

The newspaper presents no evidence that the Air Force urged the
withholding of health data, but the health department's action - not
just the reports of high disease rates - still gives the military a
"black eye."

Lenny Siegel
-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org